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 Shark Bay (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Shark Bay (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Shark Bay (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shark Bay (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
373
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
373
18.4%
-4.7pp
English
2021 count
351
% of total
17.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
351
17.3%
-1.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
99
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
99
4.9%
+4.7pp
Irish
2021 count
81
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
81
4.0%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
77
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
77
3.8%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
47
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
47
2.3%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
30
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
30
1.5%
-1.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
12
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
12
0.6%
-0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
11
0.5%
-0.6pp
French
2021 count
11
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-60
-4.7pp
English
-10
-1.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+96
+4.7pp
Irish
+6
0.0pp
Scottish
0
-0.3pp
Italian
+20
+0.9pp
German
-17
-1.0pp
Filipino
-5
-0.3pp
Dutch
-9
-0.6pp
French
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Shark Bay (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 | |
| Australian | 373 | 18.4% | 18.2% | 433 | 23.1% | 19.9% | -60 | -4.7pp |
| English | 351 | 17.3% | 20.0% | 361 | 19.2% | 19.7% | -10 | -1.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 99 | 4.9% | 3.9% | 3 | 0.2% | 1.5% | +96 | +4.7pp |
| Irish | 81 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 75 | 4.0% | 4.3% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 77 | 3.8% | 4.5% | 77 | 4.1% | 4.4% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 47 | 2.3% | 1.9% | 27 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +20 | +0.9pp |
| German | 30 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 47 | 2.5% | 1.7% | -17 | -1.0pp |
| Filipino | 12 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 17 | 0.9% | 0.7% | -5 | -0.3pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 20 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -9 | -0.6pp |
| French | 11 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 9 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 2,027 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,878 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +149 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).