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 Mount Magnet (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Magnet (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Magnet (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Magnet (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
132
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-10.4pp
132
10.4%
-10.4pp
English
2021 count
129
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
129
10.2%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
54
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
54
4.3%
+3.5pp
Irish
2021 count
29
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
29
2.3%
-2.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
27
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
27
2.1%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
11
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
11
0.9%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-64
-10.4pp
English
+30
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+46
+3.5pp
Irish
-17
-2.6pp
Scottish
+5
-0.2pp
German
-5
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Magnet (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 | 132 | 10.4% | 18.2% | 196 | 20.8% | 19.9% | -64 | -10.4pp |
| English | 129 | 10.2% | 20.0% | 99 | 10.5% | 19.7% | +30 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 54 | 4.3% | 3.9% | 8 | 0.8% | 1.5% | +46 | +3.5pp |
| Irish | 29 | 2.3% | 4.3% | 46 | 4.9% | 4.3% | -17 | -2.6pp |
| Scottish | 27 | 2.1% | 4.5% | 22 | 2.3% | 4.4% | +5 | -0.2pp |
| German | 11 | 0.9% | 1.7% | 16 | 1.7% | 1.7% | -5 | -0.8pp |
| Total | 1,266 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 942 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +324 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).