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 Cooloongup were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cooloongup - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cooloongup in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cooloongup, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
2,999
% of total
44.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
2,999
44.8%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
2,238
% of total
33.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
2,238
33.4%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
692
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
692
10.3%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
544
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
544
8.1%
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
298
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
298
4.5%
+3.8pp
Maori
2021 count
222
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
222
3.3%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
218
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
218
3.3%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
167
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
167
2.5%
-0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
131
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
131
2.0%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
127
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
127
1.9%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-68
-0.7pp
Australian
-60
-0.7pp
Scottish
+42
+0.7pp
Irish
-91
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+251
+3.8pp
Maori
+56
+0.8pp
German
-21
-0.2pp
Italian
-20
-0.3pp
Filipino
+6
+0.1pp
Dutch
+16
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cooloongup. 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 | 2,999 | 44.8% | 47.7% | 3,067 | 45.5% | 47.7% | -68 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 2,238 | 33.4% | 34.0% | 2,298 | 34.1% | 33.2% | -60 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 692 | 10.3% | 10.4% | 650 | 9.6% | 10.2% | +42 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 544 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 635 | 9.4% | 9.3% | -91 | -1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 298 | 4.5% | 2.6% | 47 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +251 | +3.8pp |
| Maori | 222 | 3.3% | 2.8% | 166 | 2.5% | 2.6% | +56 | +0.8pp |
| German | 218 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 239 | 3.5% | 3.2% | -21 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 167 | 2.5% | 3.0% | 187 | 2.8% | 2.9% | -20 | -0.3pp |
| Filipino | 131 | 2.0% | 1.4% | 125 | 1.9% | 1.1% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 127 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 111 | 1.6% | 2.2% | +16 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).