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 Goomalling (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Goomalling (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Goomalling (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Goomalling (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
425
% of total
22.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
425
22.5%
+2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
380
% of total
20.2%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
380
20.2%
-3.5pp
Irish
2021 count
106
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
106
5.6%
+1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
82
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
82
4.4%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
34
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
34
1.8%
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
32
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
32
1.7%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
28
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
28
1.5%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
23
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
23
1.2%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
15
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
15
0.8%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1
+2.0pp
Australian
-113
-3.5pp
Irish
+17
+1.3pp
Scottish
+6
+0.7pp
German
+14
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+27
+1.5pp
Dutch
+1
+0.2pp
Italian
+1
+0.1pp
Welsh
+4
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Goomalling (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 | 425 | 22.5% | 20.0% | 426 | 20.5% | 19.7% | -1 | +2.0pp |
| Australian | 380 | 20.2% | 18.2% | 493 | 23.7% | 19.9% | -113 | -3.5pp |
| Irish | 106 | 5.6% | 4.3% | 89 | 4.3% | 4.3% | +17 | +1.3pp |
| Scottish | 82 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 76 | 3.7% | 4.4% | +6 | +0.7pp |
| German | 34 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 20 | 1.0% | 1.7% | +14 | +0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 32 | 1.7% | 3.9% | 5 | 0.2% | 1.5% | +27 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 28 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 27 | 1.3% | 0.9% | +1 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 23 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 22 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 15 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 11 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 1,885 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,076 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -191 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).