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 Karnup were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Karnup - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Karnup in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Karnup, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
999
% of total
23.8%
Change from 2016
+9.2pp
999
23.8%
+9.2pp
Australian
2021 count
823
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
823
19.6%
+4.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
181
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
181
4.3%
-3.3pp
Irish
2021 count
161
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
161
3.8%
-1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
80
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
80
1.9%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
71
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
71
1.7%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
69
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
69
1.6%
-
Maori
2021 count
68
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
68
1.6%
-2.6pp
South African
2021 count
54
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
54
1.3%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
45
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
45
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+978
+9.2pp
Australian
+801
+4.3pp
Scottish
+170
-3.3pp
Irish
+154
-1.1pp
Italian
+77
-0.2pp
Maori
+62
-2.6pp
Filipino
+17
-3.0pp
Indian
+13
-1.7pp
Chinese
+7
-3.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Karnup. 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 | 999 | 23.8% | 23.9% | 21 | 14.6% | 23.8% | +978 | +9.2pp |
| Australian | 823 | 19.6% | 17.0% | 22 | 15.3% | 16.6% | +801 | +4.3pp |
| Scottish | 181 | 4.3% | 5.2% | 11 | 7.6% | 5.1% | +170 | -3.3pp |
| Irish | 161 | 3.8% | 4.4% | 7 | 4.9% | 4.6% | +154 | -1.1pp |
| Italian | 80 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 3 | 2.1% | 1.4% | +77 | -0.2pp |
| German | 71 | 1.7% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 69 | 1.6% | 1.3% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Maori | 68 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 6 | 4.2% | 1.3% | +62 | -2.6pp |
| South African | 54 | 1.3% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 45 | 1.1% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Total | 4,193 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 144 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,049 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).