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 Nilgen were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Nilgen - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Nilgen in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gingin (S) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nilgen, with comparison markers for Gingin (S).
English
2021 count
121
% of total
24.1%
Change from 2016
+11.9pp
121
24.1%
+11.9pp
Australian
2021 count
93
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
93
18.5%
+8.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
25
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
25
5.0%
+2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
19
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
19
3.8%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
15
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
15
3.0%
-4.6pp
German
2021 count
12
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
12
2.4%
+1.3pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1,816
+11.9pp
Australian
-1,569
+8.0pp
Scottish
-427
+2.2pp
Irish
-474
+0.7pp
Italian
-1,199
-4.6pp
German
-167
+1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Nilgen. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gingin (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Gingin (S)% | Count | % | Gingin (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 121 | 24.1% | 21.6% | 1,937 | 12.2% | 20.3% | -1,816 | +11.9pp |
| Australian | 93 | 18.5% | 18.1% | 1,662 | 10.5% | 19.8% | -1,569 | +8.0pp |
| Scottish | 25 | 5.0% | 4.6% | 452 | 2.8% | 4.2% | -427 | +2.2pp |
| Irish | 19 | 3.8% | 4.6% | 493 | 3.1% | 4.2% | -474 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 15 | 3.0% | 1.7% | 1,214 | 7.6% | 1.5% | -1,199 | -4.6pp |
| German | 12 | 2.4% | 1.8% | 179 | 1.1% | 1.7% | -167 | +1.3pp |
| Total | 502 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,899 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -15,397 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).