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 Sandstone (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sandstone (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sandstone (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sandstone (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
34
% of total
31.2%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
34
31.2%
-5.9pp
Australian
2021 count
32
% of total
29.4%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
32
29.4%
+5.8pp
Irish
2021 count
12
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
12
11.0%
-4.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1
-5.9pp
Australian
+11
+5.8pp
Irish
-2
-4.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sandstone (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 34 | 31.2% | 40.0% | 33 | 37.1% | 39.4% | +1 | -5.9pp |
| Australian | 32 | 29.4% | 36.3% | 21 | 23.6% | 39.9% | +11 | +5.8pp |
| Irish | 12 | 11.0% | 8.6% | 14 | 15.7% | 8.7% | -2 | -4.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).