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 Greenfields were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greenfields - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greenfields in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mandurah (C) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greenfields, with comparison markers for Mandurah (C).
English
2021 count
4,716
% of total
23.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
4,716
23.9%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
3,864
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
3,864
19.6%
+1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
885
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
885
4.5%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
830
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
830
4.2%
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
472
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
472
2.4%
+2.2pp
German
2021 count
336
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
336
1.7%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
263
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
263
1.3%
-2.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
199
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
199
1.0%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
196
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
196
1.0%
+0.5pp
Maori
2021 count
192
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
192
1.0%
+0.7pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,479
+0.6pp
Australian
+2,906
+1.6pp
Scottish
+614
-0.6pp
Irish
+560
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+460
+2.2pp
German
+225
-0.4pp
Italian
+85
-2.1pp
Dutch
+139
-0.1pp
Filipino
+169
+0.5pp
Maori
+175
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greenfields. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mandurah (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mandurah (C)% | Count | % | Mandurah (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,716 | 23.9% | 24.0% | 1,237 | 23.3% | 23.7% | +3,479 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 3,864 | 19.6% | 17.6% | 958 | 18.0% | 17.9% | +2,906 | +1.6pp |
| Scottish | 885 | 4.5% | 5.1% | 271 | 5.1% | 5.1% | +614 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 830 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 270 | 5.1% | 4.9% | +560 | -0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 472 | 2.4% | 1.4% | 12 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +460 | +2.2pp |
| German | 336 | 1.7% | 1.6% | 111 | 2.1% | 1.6% | +225 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 263 | 1.3% | 1.6% | 178 | 3.4% | 1.5% | +85 | -2.1pp |
| Dutch | 199 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 60 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +139 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 196 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 27 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +169 | +0.5pp |
| Maori | 192 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +175 | +0.7pp |
| Total | 19,719 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,308 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +14,411 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).