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 Katanning (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Katanning (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Katanning (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Katanning (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
1,385
% of total
17.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
1,385
17.1%
-1.7pp
English
2021 count
1,315
% of total
16.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,315
16.3%
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
324
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
324
4.0%
+3.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
245
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
245
3.0%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
215
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
215
2.7%
+0.3pp
Karen
2021 count
203
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
203
2.5%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
140
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
140
1.7%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
128
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
128
1.6%
+0.3pp
Malay
2021 count
102
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
102
1.3%
-0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
101
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
101
1.3%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-180
-1.7pp
English
+63
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+276
+3.4pp
Scottish
-1
0.0pp
Irish
+12
+0.3pp
Karen
+8
+0.2pp
German
-17
-0.2pp
Italian
+22
+0.3pp
Malay
-14
-0.1pp
Maori
+25
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Katanning (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 | 1,385 | 17.1% | 18.2% | 1,565 | 18.8% | 19.9% | -180 | -1.7pp |
| English | 1,315 | 16.3% | 20.0% | 1,252 | 15.1% | 19.7% | +63 | +1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 324 | 4.0% | 3.9% | 48 | 0.6% | 1.5% | +276 | +3.4pp |
| Scottish | 245 | 3.0% | 4.5% | 246 | 3.0% | 4.4% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 215 | 2.7% | 4.3% | 203 | 2.4% | 4.3% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Karen | 203 | 2.5% | 0.0% | 195 | 2.3% | 0.0% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| German | 140 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 157 | 1.9% | 1.7% | -17 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 128 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 106 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +22 | +0.3pp |
| Malay | 102 | 1.3% | 0.1% | 116 | 1.4% | 0.1% | -14 | -0.1pp |
| Maori | 101 | 1.3% | 0.6% | 76 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +25 | +0.4pp |
| Total | 8,078 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,307 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -229 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).