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 Three Springs (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Three Springs (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Three Springs (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Three Springs (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
229
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
229
20.1%
-1.4pp
English
2021 count
229
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
229
20.1%
-2.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
43
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
43
3.8%
+3.5pp
Irish
2021 count
41
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
41
3.6%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
38
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
38
3.3%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
17
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
17
1.5%
-0.5pp
Maori
2021 count
14
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
14
1.2%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
11
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11
1.0%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-24
-1.4pp
English
-31
-2.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+40
+3.5pp
Irish
-21
-1.7pp
Scottish
+8
+0.8pp
German
-6
-0.5pp
Maori
+7
+0.6pp
Italian
+1
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Three Springs (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 | 229 | 20.1% | 18.2% | 253 | 21.5% | 19.9% | -24 | -1.4pp |
| English | 229 | 20.1% | 20.0% | 260 | 22.1% | 19.7% | -31 | -2.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 43 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3 | 0.3% | 1.5% | +40 | +3.5pp |
| Irish | 41 | 3.6% | 4.3% | 62 | 5.3% | 4.3% | -21 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 38 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 30 | 2.5% | 4.4% | +8 | +0.8pp |
| German | 17 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 23 | 2.0% | 1.7% | -6 | -0.5pp |
| Maori | 14 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 7 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +7 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 11 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 10 | 0.8% | 1.8% | +1 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 1,139 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,178 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -39 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).