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 Meekatharra (S) were Australian Aboriginal, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Meekatharra (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Meekatharra (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Meekatharra (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
383
% of total
16.2%
Change from 2016
+12.1pp
383
16.2%
+12.1pp
English
2021 count
236
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
236
10.0%
-3.1pp
Australian
2021 count
209
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-10.7pp
209
8.8%
-10.7pp
Irish
2021 count
60
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
60
2.5%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
53
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
53
2.2%
-1.3pp
German
2021 count
31
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
31
1.3%
-0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
20
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
20
0.8%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
18
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
18
0.8%
+0.6pp
Maori
2021 count
15
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15
0.6%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
13
0.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+296
+12.1pp
English
-42
-3.1pp
Australian
-205
-10.7pp
Irish
-19
-1.2pp
Scottish
-22
-1.3pp
German
-5
-0.4pp
Chinese
+10
+0.3pp
Filipino
+14
+0.6pp
Maori
+1
-0.1pp
Italian
+4
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Meekatharra (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 Aboriginal | 383 | 16.2% | 3.9% | 87 | 4.1% | 1.5% | +296 | +12.1pp |
| English | 236 | 10.0% | 20.0% | 278 | 13.1% | 19.7% | -42 | -3.1pp |
| Australian | 209 | 8.8% | 18.2% | 414 | 19.5% | 19.9% | -205 | -10.7pp |
| Irish | 60 | 2.5% | 4.3% | 79 | 3.7% | 4.3% | -19 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 53 | 2.2% | 4.5% | 75 | 3.5% | 4.4% | -22 | -1.3pp |
| German | 31 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 36 | 1.7% | 1.7% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| Chinese | 20 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 10 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 18 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 4 | 0.2% | 0.7% | +14 | +0.6pp |
| Maori | 15 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 14 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 13 | 0.5% | 1.9% | 9 | 0.4% | 1.8% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 2,370 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,127 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +243 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).