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 Irwin (S) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Irwin (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Irwin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Irwin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
1,620
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,620
22.0%
-1.1pp
English
2021 count
1,564
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,564
21.2%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
326
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
326
4.4%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
318
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
318
4.3%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
145
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
145
2.0%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
138
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
138
1.9%
+1.8pp
Italian
2021 count
87
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
87
1.2%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
64
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
64
0.9%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
45
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
45
0.6%
+0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
37
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
37
0.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-26
-1.1pp
English
-22
-1.0pp
Scottish
-18
-0.4pp
Irish
-30
-0.6pp
German
+5
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+129
+1.8pp
Italian
+11
+0.1pp
Dutch
+4
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+6
+0.1pp
Maori
-4
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Irwin (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 | 1,620 | 22.0% | 18.2% | 1,646 | 23.1% | 19.9% | -26 | -1.1pp |
| English | 1,564 | 21.2% | 20.0% | 1,586 | 22.2% | 19.7% | -22 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 326 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 344 | 4.8% | 4.4% | -18 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 318 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 348 | 4.9% | 4.3% | -30 | -0.6pp |
| German | 145 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 140 | 2.0% | 1.7% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 138 | 1.9% | 3.9% | 9 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +129 | +1.8pp |
| Italian | 87 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 76 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 64 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 60 | 0.8% | 0.9% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 45 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 39 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Maori | 37 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 41 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 7,371 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,131 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +240 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).