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 Lakelands (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lakelands (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lakelands (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mandurah (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lakelands (WA), with comparison markers for Mandurah (C).
English
2021 count
2,743
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
-
2,743
22.3%
-
Australian
2021 count
2,138
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
-27.6pp
2,138
17.4%
-27.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
601
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-
601
4.9%
-
Irish
2021 count
499
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-
499
4.1%
-
Maori
2021 count
223
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
223
1.8%
-
Italian
2021 count
202
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-18.4pp
202
1.6%
-18.4pp
German
2021 count
195
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
195
1.6%
-
Filipino
2021 count
184
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
184
1.5%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
171
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
171
1.4%
-
Dutch
2021 count
124
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
124
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+2,129
-27.6pp
Italian
+198
-18.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lakelands (WA). 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 | 2,743 | 22.3% | 24.0% | - | - | 23.7% | - | - |
| Australian | 2,138 | 17.4% | 17.6% | 9 | 45.0% | 17.9% | +2,129 | -27.6pp |
| Scottish | 601 | 4.9% | 5.1% | - | - | 5.1% | - | - |
| Irish | 499 | 4.1% | 4.8% | - | - | 4.9% | - | - |
| Maori | 223 | 1.8% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Italian | 202 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 4 | 20.0% | 1.5% | +198 | -18.4pp |
| German | 195 | 1.6% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Filipino | 184 | 1.5% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 171 | 1.4% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Dutch | 124 | 1.0% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 12,315 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,295 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).