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 Greater Geraldton (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greater Geraldton (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greater Geraldton (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Geraldton (C), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
15,317
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
15,317
19.4%
-0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
15,301
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
15,301
19.4%
-2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
3,635
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,635
4.6%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
3,496
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
3,496
4.4%
+3.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,443
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,443
4.4%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
1,529
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,529
1.9%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
1,317
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,317
1.7%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
675
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
675
0.9%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
621
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
621
0.8%
0.0pp
South African
2021 count
361
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
361
0.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+22
-0.4pp
Australian
-1,358
-2.2pp
Irish
-51
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+3,024
+3.8pp
Scottish
+136
+0.1pp
Italian
+38
0.0pp
German
+74
+0.1pp
Dutch
+63
+0.1pp
Filipino
+2
0.0pp
South African
+24
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greater Geraldton (C). 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 | 15,317 | 19.4% | 20.0% | 15,295 | 19.8% | 19.7% | +22 | -0.4pp |
| Australian | 15,301 | 19.4% | 18.2% | 16,659 | 21.6% | 19.9% | -1,358 | -2.2pp |
| Irish | 3,635 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 3,686 | 4.8% | 4.3% | -51 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 3,496 | 4.4% | 3.9% | 472 | 0.6% | 1.5% | +3,024 | +3.8pp |
| Scottish | 3,443 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 3,307 | 4.3% | 4.4% | +136 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 1,529 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1,491 | 1.9% | 1.8% | +38 | 0.0pp |
| German | 1,317 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1,243 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +74 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 675 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 612 | 0.8% | 0.9% | +63 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 621 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 619 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| South African | 361 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 337 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +24 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 78,954 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 77,228 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,726 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).