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 West Kentish were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
West Kentish - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for West Kentish in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Kentish (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Kentish, with comparison markers for Kentish (M).
English
2021 count
73
% of total
45.6%
Change from 2016
+6.2pp
73
45.6%
+6.2pp
Australian
2021 count
56
% of total
35.0%
Change from 2016
-12.9pp
56
35.0%
-12.9pp
Irish
2021 count
25
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
25
15.6%
+7.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
18
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
18
11.3%
+1.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
10
6.3%
+4.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+8
+6.2pp
Australian
-23
-12.9pp
Irish
+11
+7.1pp
Scottish
+1
+1.0pp
Dutch
+7
+4.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for West Kentish. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Kentish (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 73 | 45.6% | 42.9% | 65 | 39.4% | 43.5% | +8 | +6.2pp |
| Australian | 56 | 35.0% | 42.7% | 79 | 47.9% | 45.7% | -23 | -12.9pp |
| Irish | 25 | 15.6% | 9.0% | 14 | 8.5% | 9.0% | +11 | +7.1pp |
| Scottish | 18 | 11.3% | 9.8% | 17 | 10.3% | 9.3% | +1 | +1.0pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 6.3% | 2.1% | 3 | 1.8% | 2.3% | +7 | +4.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).