Cultural diversity

Ancestry

About this topic

Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.

This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.

Interpretation notes

  • People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
  • ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
  • The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.

Key insight

In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Salmon Gums were Australian, English and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Salmon Gums - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Salmon Gums in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Esperance (S) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Salmon Gums, with comparison markers for Esperance (S).

Salmon Gums
Esperance (S)

Australian

2021 count

66

% of total

45.2%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

English

2021 count

64

% of total

43.8%

Change from 2016

+5.1pp

Scottish

2021 count

28

% of total

19.2%

Change from 2016

+5.6pp

Irish

2021 count

19

% of total

13.0%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Italian

2021 count

16

% of total

11.0%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Data table

Ancestry for Salmon Gums. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).

Ancestry for Salmon Gums. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).
Ancestry for Salmon Gums. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Esperance (S)%Count%Esperance (S)%Countpp
Australian6645.2%43.7%7941.4%46.3%-13+3.8pp
English6443.8%39.8%7438.7%38.8%-10+5.1pp
Scottish2819.2%10.1%2613.6%9.0%+2+5.6pp
Irish1913.0%8.5%2714.1%8.5%-8-1.1pp
Italian1611.0%3.0%168.4%2.6%0+2.6pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).