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 Brunswick (WA) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brunswick (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brunswick (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Harvey (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brunswick (WA), with comparison markers for Harvey (S).
English
2021 count
579
% of total
48.5%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
579
48.5%
+6.7pp
Australian
2021 count
473
% of total
39.6%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
473
39.6%
-2.7pp
Irish
2021 count
113
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
113
9.5%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
111
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
111
9.3%
-3.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
75
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
75
6.3%
-1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
56
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
56
4.7%
+3.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
35
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
35
2.9%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
30
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
30
2.5%
+0.5pp
Polish
2021 count
20
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
20
1.7%
+0.6pp
New Zealander
2021 count
14
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
14
1.2%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+113
+6.7pp
Australian
+1
-2.7pp
Irish
+8
+0.1pp
Italian
-28
-3.2pp
Scottish
-9
-1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+45
+3.7pp
Dutch
+10
+0.7pp
German
+8
+0.5pp
Polish
+8
+0.6pp
New Zealander
-2
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brunswick (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Harvey (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Harvey (S)% | Count | % | Harvey (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 579 | 48.5% | 45.3% | 466 | 41.8% | 43.9% | +113 | +6.7pp |
| Australian | 473 | 39.6% | 40.1% | 472 | 42.3% | 39.6% | +1 | -2.7pp |
| Irish | 113 | 9.5% | 9.0% | 105 | 9.4% | 9.5% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 111 | 9.3% | 7.7% | 139 | 12.5% | 7.8% | -28 | -3.2pp |
| Scottish | 75 | 6.3% | 9.4% | 84 | 7.5% | 9.0% | -9 | -1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 56 | 4.7% | 2.9% | 11 | 1.0% | 0.4% | +45 | +3.7pp |
| Dutch | 35 | 2.9% | 2.2% | 25 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +10 | +0.7pp |
| German | 30 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 22 | 2.0% | 3.0% | +8 | +0.5pp |
| Polish | 20 | 1.7% | 0.8% | 12 | 1.1% | 0.7% | +8 | +0.6pp |
| New Zealander | 14 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 16 | 1.4% | 1.5% | -2 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).