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 Gingin (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gingin (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gingin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gingin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
2,405
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
2,405
21.6%
+1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
2,017
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
2,017
18.1%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
512
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
512
4.6%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
509
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
509
4.6%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
200
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
200
1.8%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
194
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
194
1.7%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
111
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
111
1.0%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
110
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
110
1.0%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
71
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
71
0.6%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
53
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
53
0.5%
-0.4pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+289
+1.3pp
Australian
-49
-1.7pp
Irish
+78
+0.4pp
Scottish
+76
+0.4pp
German
+18
+0.1pp
Italian
+37
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+105
+0.9pp
Dutch
+16
+0.1pp
Filipino
-13
-0.2pp
Chinese
-39
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gingin (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,405 | 21.6% | 20.0% | 2,116 | 20.3% | 19.7% | +289 | +1.3pp |
| Australian | 2,017 | 18.1% | 18.2% | 2,066 | 19.8% | 19.9% | -49 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 512 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 434 | 4.2% | 4.3% | +78 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 509 | 4.6% | 4.5% | 433 | 4.2% | 4.4% | +76 | +0.4pp |
| German | 200 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 182 | 1.7% | 1.7% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 194 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 157 | 1.5% | 1.8% | +37 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 111 | 1.0% | 3.9% | 6 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +105 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 110 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 94 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 71 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 84 | 0.8% | 0.7% | -13 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 53 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 92 | 0.9% | 0.4% | -39 | -0.4pp |
| Total | 11,144 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,421 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +723 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).