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 Kulin (S) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kulin (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kulin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kulin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
359
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
359
23.2%
-2.3pp
English
2021 count
323
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
323
20.9%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
79
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
79
5.1%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
79
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
79
5.1%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
40
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
40
2.6%
-0.7pp
German
2021 count
25
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
25
1.6%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
17
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
17
1.1%
+0.9pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-29
-2.3pp
English
+2
-0.2pp
Scottish
+10
+0.6pp
Irish
+13
+0.8pp
Italian
-10
-0.7pp
German
+4
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+14
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kulin (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 | 359 | 23.2% | 18.2% | 388 | 25.5% | 19.9% | -29 | -2.3pp |
| English | 323 | 20.9% | 20.0% | 321 | 21.1% | 19.7% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 79 | 5.1% | 4.5% | 69 | 4.5% | 4.4% | +10 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 79 | 5.1% | 4.3% | 66 | 4.3% | 4.3% | +13 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 40 | 2.6% | 1.9% | 50 | 3.3% | 1.8% | -10 | -0.7pp |
| German | 25 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 21 | 1.4% | 1.7% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 17 | 1.1% | 3.9% | 3 | 0.2% | 1.5% | +14 | +0.9pp |
| Total | 1,545 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,519 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +26 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).