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 Baldivis were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Baldivis - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Baldivis in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Baldivis, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
17,194
% of total
22.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17,194
22.8%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
12,649
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
12,649
16.8%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,637
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,637
4.8%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
3,024
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
3,024
4.0%
-0.4pp
Maori
2021 count
1,381
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,381
1.8%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
1,233
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,233
1.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
1,088
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,088
1.4%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
879
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
879
1.2%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
849
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
849
1.1%
+1.0pp
South African
2021 count
813
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
813
1.1%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,799
0.0pp
Australian
+2,287
+0.4pp
Scottish
+682
+0.1pp
Irish
+262
-0.4pp
Maori
+388
+0.2pp
Italian
+273
+0.1pp
German
+123
-0.1pp
Dutch
+147
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+800
+1.0pp
South African
+171
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Baldivis. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 17,194 | 22.8% | 23.9% | 14,395 | 22.8% | 23.8% | +2,799 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 12,649 | 16.8% | 17.0% | 10,362 | 16.4% | 16.6% | +2,287 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 3,637 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 2,955 | 4.7% | 5.1% | +682 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 3,024 | 4.0% | 4.4% | 2,762 | 4.4% | 4.6% | +262 | -0.4pp |
| Maori | 1,381 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 993 | 1.6% | 1.3% | +388 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 1,233 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 960 | 1.5% | 1.4% | +273 | +0.1pp |
| German | 1,088 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 965 | 1.5% | 1.6% | +123 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 879 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 732 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +147 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 849 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 49 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +800 | +1.0pp |
| South African | 813 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 642 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +171 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 75,308 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 63,268 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,040 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).