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 Ngaanyatjarraku (S) were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ngaanyatjarraku (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ngaanyatjarraku (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ngaanyatjarraku (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,135
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,135
42.1%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
58
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
58
2.2%
-0.3pp
English
2021 count
55
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
55
2.0%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
22
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
22
0.8%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
17
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
17
0.6%
-0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
10
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
10
0.4%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
-159
+1.6pp
Australian
-21
-0.3pp
English
-20
-0.3pp
Irish
+4
+0.2pp
Scottish
-5
-0.1pp
Maori
0
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ngaanyatjarraku (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 | 1,135 | 42.1% | 3.9% | 1,294 | 40.5% | 1.5% | -159 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 58 | 2.2% | 18.2% | 79 | 2.5% | 19.9% | -21 | -0.3pp |
| English | 55 | 2.0% | 20.0% | 75 | 2.3% | 19.7% | -20 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 22 | 0.8% | 4.3% | 18 | 0.6% | 4.3% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 17 | 0.6% | 4.5% | 22 | 0.7% | 4.4% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Maori | 10 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 2,697 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,195 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -498 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).