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 Gnowangerup (S) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gnowangerup (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gnowangerup (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gnowangerup (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
528
% of total
21.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
528
21.9%
-1.6pp
English
2021 count
489
% of total
20.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
489
20.3%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
109
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
109
4.5%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
87
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
87
3.6%
+3.4pp
Irish
2021 count
86
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
86
3.6%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
56
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
56
2.3%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
51
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
51
2.1%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
30
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
30
1.2%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
23
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
23
1.0%
0.0pp
Maori
2021 count
14
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
14
0.6%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-43
-1.6pp
English
-14
-0.4pp
Scottish
-2
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+83
+3.4pp
Irish
+1
+0.1pp
Filipino
+18
+0.7pp
German
+3
+0.1pp
Dutch
+6
+0.2pp
Italian
-1
0.0pp
Maori
-4
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gnowangerup (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 | |
| Australian | 528 | 21.9% | 18.2% | 571 | 23.5% | 19.9% | -43 | -1.6pp |
| English | 489 | 20.3% | 20.0% | 503 | 20.7% | 19.7% | -14 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 109 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 111 | 4.6% | 4.4% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 87 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 4 | 0.2% | 1.5% | +83 | +3.4pp |
| Irish | 86 | 3.6% | 4.3% | 85 | 3.5% | 4.3% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 56 | 2.3% | 0.8% | 38 | 1.6% | 0.7% | +18 | +0.7pp |
| German | 51 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 48 | 2.0% | 1.7% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 30 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 24 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 23 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 24 | 1.0% | 1.8% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Maori | 14 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 18 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 2,407 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,433 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -26 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).