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 Menzies (S) were English, Australian Aboriginal and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Menzies (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Menzies (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Menzies (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
133
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
133
12.8%
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
110
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-8.8pp
110
10.6%
-8.8pp
Australian
2021 count
87
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
87
8.4%
-2.8pp
Irish
2021 count
35
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
35
3.4%
+0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
27
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
27
2.6%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
20
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
20
1.9%
+1.0pp
Maori
2021 count
13
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
13
1.3%
+0.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
12
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
12
1.2%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
10
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
10
1.0%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+25
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
-75
-8.8pp
Australian
-20
-2.8pp
Irish
+8
+0.6pp
Scottish
-2
-0.4pp
German
+11
+1.0pp
Maori
+7
+0.7pp
Filipino
+3
+0.3pp
Italian
+1
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Menzies (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 | |
| English | 133 | 12.8% | 20.0% | 108 | 11.3% | 19.7% | +25 | +1.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 110 | 10.6% | 3.9% | 185 | 19.4% | 1.5% | -75 | -8.8pp |
| Australian | 87 | 8.4% | 18.2% | 107 | 11.2% | 19.9% | -20 | -2.8pp |
| Irish | 35 | 3.4% | 4.3% | 27 | 2.8% | 4.3% | +8 | +0.6pp |
| Scottish | 27 | 2.6% | 4.5% | 29 | 3.0% | 4.4% | -2 | -0.4pp |
| German | 20 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 9 | 0.9% | 1.7% | +11 | +1.0pp |
| Maori | 13 | 1.3% | 0.6% | 6 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +7 | +0.7pp |
| Filipino | 12 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 9 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 10 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 9 | 0.9% | 1.8% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 1,036 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 954 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +82 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).