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 Nickol were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Nickol - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Nickol in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nickol, with comparison markers for Karratha (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,677
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
-15.2pp
1,677
17.0%
-15.2pp
English
2021 count
1,571
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
1,571
16.0%
-5.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
481
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-
481
4.9%
-
Scottish
2021 count
384
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-6.1pp
384
3.9%
-6.1pp
Irish
2021 count
357
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
357
3.6%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
156
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
156
1.6%
-
Indian
2021 count
127
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
127
1.3%
-
Italian
2021 count
118
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
118
1.2%
-
Filipino
2021 count
113
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
113
1.1%
-
Maori
2021 count
103
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
103
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,648
-15.2pp
English
+1,552
-5.1pp
Scottish
+375
-6.1pp
Irish
+353
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Nickol. 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 | |
| Australian | 1,677 | 17.0% | 16.4% | 29 | 32.2% | 20.2% | +1,648 | -15.2pp |
| English | 1,571 | 16.0% | 15.3% | 19 | 21.1% | 15.3% | +1,552 | -5.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 481 | 4.9% | 5.1% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Scottish | 384 | 3.9% | 3.6% | 9 | 10.0% | 3.8% | +375 | -6.1pp |
| Irish | 357 | 3.6% | 3.6% | 4 | 4.4% | 3.8% | +353 | -0.8pp |
| German | 156 | 1.6% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Indian | 127 | 1.3% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Italian | 118 | 1.2% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Filipino | 113 | 1.1% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Maori | 103 | 1.0% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Total | 9,849 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 90 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,759 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).