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 Port Hedland (T) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Port Hedland (T) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Port Hedland (T) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Hedland (T), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
4,439
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
-5.2pp
4,439
14.2%
-5.2pp
English
2021 count
4,326
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,326
13.8%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,650
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
2,650
8.5%
+6.7pp
Irish
2021 count
1,159
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,159
3.7%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,041
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,041
3.3%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
525
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
525
1.7%
+0.3pp
Maori
2021 count
484
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
484
1.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
457
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
457
1.5%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
344
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
344
1.1%
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
274
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
274
0.9%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,168
-5.2pp
English
+306
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2,136
+6.7pp
Irish
+94
0.0pp
Scottish
+93
0.0pp
Filipino
+107
+0.3pp
Maori
+91
+0.1pp
German
+24
0.0pp
Italian
+59
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
+206
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Port Hedland (T). 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 | 4,439 | 14.2% | 18.2% | 5,607 | 19.4% | 19.9% | -1,168 | -5.2pp |
| English | 4,326 | 13.8% | 20.0% | 4,020 | 13.9% | 19.7% | +306 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,650 | 8.5% | 3.9% | 514 | 1.8% | 1.5% | +2,136 | +6.7pp |
| Irish | 1,159 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 1,065 | 3.7% | 4.3% | +94 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,041 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 948 | 3.3% | 4.4% | +93 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 525 | 1.7% | 0.8% | 418 | 1.4% | 0.7% | +107 | +0.3pp |
| Maori | 484 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 393 | 1.4% | 0.6% | +91 | +0.1pp |
| German | 457 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 433 | 1.5% | 1.7% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 344 | 1.1% | 1.9% | 285 | 1.0% | 1.8% | +59 | +0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 274 | 0.9% | 0.1% | 68 | 0.2% | 0.0% | +206 | +0.7pp |
| Total | 31,293 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 28,938 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,355 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).