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 Singleton (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Singleton (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Singleton (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Singleton (WA), with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
2,014
% of total
50.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,014
50.1%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,613
% of total
40.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,613
40.1%
+1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
437
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
437
10.9%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
386
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
386
9.6%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
160
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
160
4.0%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
137
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
137
3.4%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
111
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
111
2.8%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
98
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
98
2.4%
+2.0pp
Maori
2021 count
94
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
94
2.3%
-0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
73
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
73
1.8%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+131
-0.1pp
Australian
+149
+1.1pp
Scottish
+51
+0.6pp
Irish
+14
-0.3pp
Italian
+43
+0.9pp
Dutch
+26
+0.4pp
German
+8
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+82
+2.0pp
Maori
-5
-0.3pp
New Zealander
-13
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Singleton (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 | 2,014 | 50.1% | 47.7% | 1,883 | 50.2% | 47.7% | +131 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 1,613 | 40.1% | 34.0% | 1,464 | 39.0% | 33.2% | +149 | +1.1pp |
| Scottish | 437 | 10.9% | 10.4% | 386 | 10.3% | 10.2% | +51 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 386 | 9.6% | 8.8% | 372 | 9.9% | 9.3% | +14 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 160 | 4.0% | 3.0% | 117 | 3.1% | 2.9% | +43 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 137 | 3.4% | 2.3% | 111 | 3.0% | 2.2% | +26 | +0.4pp |
| German | 111 | 2.8% | 3.1% | 103 | 2.7% | 3.2% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 98 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 16 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +82 | +2.0pp |
| Maori | 94 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 99 | 2.6% | 2.6% | -5 | -0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 73 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 86 | 2.3% | 1.8% | -13 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).