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 Safety Bay were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Safety Bay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Safety Bay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Safety Bay, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
3,989
% of total
52.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
3,989
52.1%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,686
% of total
35.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
2,686
35.1%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
873
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
873
11.4%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
767
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
767
10.0%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
261
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
261
3.4%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
249
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
249
3.2%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
184
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
184
2.4%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
136
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
136
1.8%
+1.8pp
New Zealander
2021 count
119
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
119
1.6%
+0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
116
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
116
1.5%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+159
+0.6pp
Australian
+136
+0.8pp
Scottish
+33
+0.1pp
Irish
-15
-0.5pp
German
+29
+0.3pp
Italian
+57
+0.6pp
Dutch
+33
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+133
+1.8pp
New Zealander
+5
+0.1pp
Maori
+45
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Safety Bay. 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 | 3,989 | 52.1% | 47.7% | 3,830 | 51.5% | 47.7% | +159 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 2,686 | 35.1% | 34.0% | 2,550 | 34.3% | 33.2% | +136 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 873 | 11.4% | 10.4% | 840 | 11.3% | 10.2% | +33 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 767 | 10.0% | 8.8% | 782 | 10.5% | 9.3% | -15 | -0.5pp |
| German | 261 | 3.4% | 3.1% | 232 | 3.1% | 3.2% | +29 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 249 | 3.2% | 3.0% | 192 | 2.6% | 2.9% | +57 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 184 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 151 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +33 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 136 | 1.8% | 2.6% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +133 | +1.8pp |
| New Zealander | 119 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 114 | 1.5% | 1.8% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Maori | 116 | 1.5% | 2.8% | 71 | 0.9% | 2.6% | +45 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).