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 Perenjori (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Perenjori (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Perenjori (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Perenjori (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
212
% of total
33.7%
Change from 2016
-8.9pp
212
33.7%
-8.9pp
Australian
2021 count
188
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-13.9pp
188
29.9%
-13.9pp
Irish
2021 count
51
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
51
8.1%
-1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
45
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
45
7.2%
-1.7pp
German
2021 count
21
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
21
3.3%
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
17
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
17
2.7%
+2.2pp
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
13
2.1%
-0.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
13
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
13
2.1%
+0.5pp
Maori
2021 count
12
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
12
1.9%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
1.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-51
-8.9pp
Australian
-82
-13.9pp
Irish
-7
-1.3pp
Scottish
-10
-1.7pp
German
-4
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+14
+2.2pp
Italian
-4
-0.7pp
Chinese
+3
+0.5pp
Maori
+2
+0.3pp
Dutch
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Perenjori (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 | 212 | 33.7% | 40.0% | 263 | 42.6% | 39.4% | -51 | -8.9pp |
| Australian | 188 | 29.9% | 36.3% | 270 | 43.8% | 39.9% | -82 | -13.9pp |
| Irish | 51 | 8.1% | 8.6% | 58 | 9.4% | 8.7% | -7 | -1.3pp |
| Scottish | 45 | 7.2% | 9.0% | 55 | 8.9% | 8.8% | -10 | -1.7pp |
| German | 21 | 3.3% | 3.4% | 25 | 4.1% | 3.3% | -4 | -0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 17 | 2.7% | 7.8% | 3 | 0.5% | 3.1% | +14 | +2.2pp |
| Italian | 13 | 2.1% | 3.8% | 17 | 2.8% | 3.6% | -4 | -0.7pp |
| Chinese | 13 | 2.1% | 0.8% | 10 | 1.6% | 0.8% | +3 | +0.5pp |
| Maori | 12 | 1.9% | 1.3% | 10 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +2 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 10 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).