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 Pegs Creek were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pegs Creek - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pegs Creek in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pegs Creek, with comparison markers for Karratha (C).
English
2021 count
565
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
565
13.9%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
536
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
536
13.2%
+2.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
194
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
194
4.8%
+4.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
156
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
156
3.8%
+1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
148
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
148
3.6%
+0.8pp
Filipino
2021 count
99
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
99
2.4%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
68
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
68
1.7%
-0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
62
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
62
1.5%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
58
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
58
1.4%
+0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
40
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
40
1.0%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1,888
+0.4pp
Australian
-1,440
+2.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+181
+4.7pp
Scottish
-330
+1.1pp
Irish
-362
+0.8pp
Filipino
-97
+1.3pp
Italian
-285
-0.2pp
Maori
-100
+0.6pp
German
-140
+0.3pp
New Zealander
-49
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pegs Creek. 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 | 565 | 13.9% | 15.3% | 2,453 | 13.5% | 15.3% | -1,888 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 536 | 13.2% | 16.4% | 1,976 | 10.8% | 20.2% | -1,440 | +2.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 194 | 4.8% | 5.1% | 13 | 0.1% | 1.8% | +181 | +4.7pp |
| Scottish | 156 | 3.8% | 3.6% | 486 | 2.7% | 3.8% | -330 | +1.1pp |
| Irish | 148 | 3.6% | 3.6% | 510 | 2.8% | 3.8% | -362 | +0.8pp |
| Filipino | 99 | 2.4% | 1.3% | 196 | 1.1% | 1.4% | -97 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 68 | 1.7% | 1.4% | 353 | 1.9% | 1.2% | -285 | -0.2pp |
| Maori | 62 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 162 | 0.9% | 1.1% | -100 | +0.6pp |
| German | 58 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 198 | 1.1% | 1.5% | -140 | +0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 40 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 89 | 0.5% | 0.9% | -49 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 4,074 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 18,212 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -14,138 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).