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 Bulgarra were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bulgarra - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bulgarra in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bulgarra, with comparison markers for Karratha (C).
English
2021 count
1,032
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,032
17.4%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
996
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
996
16.8%
-2.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
220
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
220
3.7%
+2.5pp
Irish
2021 count
218
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
218
3.7%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
187
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
187
3.2%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
119
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
119
2.0%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
86
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
86
1.4%
-0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
80
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
80
1.3%
+0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
52
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
52
0.9%
0.0pp
Maori
2021 count
51
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
51
0.9%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+131
+0.2pp
Australian
-27
-2.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+156
+2.5pp
Irish
+21
-0.1pp
Scottish
0
-0.4pp
German
+17
+0.1pp
Filipino
-20
-0.6pp
Italian
+26
+0.3pp
New Zealander
+4
0.0pp
Maori
-13
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bulgarra. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,032 | 17.4% | 15.3% | 901 | 17.2% | 15.3% | +131 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 996 | 16.8% | 16.4% | 1,023 | 19.5% | 20.2% | -27 | -2.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 220 | 3.7% | 5.1% | 64 | 1.2% | 1.8% | +156 | +2.5pp |
| Irish | 218 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 197 | 3.8% | 3.8% | +21 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 187 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 187 | 3.6% | 3.8% | 0 | -0.4pp |
| German | 119 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 102 | 1.9% | 1.5% | +17 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 86 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 106 | 2.0% | 1.4% | -20 | -0.6pp |
| Italian | 80 | 1.3% | 1.4% | 54 | 1.0% | 1.2% | +26 | +0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 52 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 48 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Maori | 51 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 64 | 1.2% | 1.1% | -13 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 5,932 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,252 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +680 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).