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 Rockingham (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rockingham (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rockingham (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rockingham (WA), with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
7,251
% of total
47.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
7,251
47.4%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
4,498
% of total
29.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,498
29.4%
+1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,724
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,724
11.3%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,551
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,551
10.1%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
537
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
537
3.5%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
468
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
468
3.1%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
302
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
302
2.0%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
296
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
296
1.9%
+1.7pp
Maori
2021 count
282
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
282
1.8%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
257
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
257
1.7%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+591
+1.2pp
Australian
+424
+1.2pp
Scottish
+146
+0.4pp
Irish
+164
+0.5pp
German
+50
+0.1pp
Italian
+46
+0.2pp
Dutch
+12
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+263
+1.7pp
Maori
+8
-0.1pp
Filipino
-43
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rockingham (WA). 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 | 7,251 | 47.4% | 47.7% | 6,660 | 46.2% | 47.7% | +591 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 4,498 | 29.4% | 34.0% | 4,074 | 28.2% | 33.2% | +424 | +1.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,724 | 11.3% | 10.4% | 1,578 | 10.9% | 10.2% | +146 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 1,551 | 10.1% | 8.8% | 1,387 | 9.6% | 9.3% | +164 | +0.5pp |
| German | 537 | 3.5% | 3.1% | 487 | 3.4% | 3.2% | +50 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 468 | 3.1% | 3.0% | 422 | 2.9% | 2.9% | +46 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 302 | 2.0% | 2.3% | 290 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 296 | 1.9% | 2.6% | 33 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +263 | +1.7pp |
| Maori | 282 | 1.8% | 2.8% | 274 | 1.9% | 2.6% | +8 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 257 | 1.7% | 1.4% | 300 | 2.1% | 1.1% | -43 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).