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 Toodyay (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Toodyay (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Toodyay (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Toodyay (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
2,050
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,050
22.3%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,683
% of total
18.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,683
18.3%
-1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
492
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
492
5.4%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
467
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
467
5.1%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
176
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
176
1.9%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
125
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
125
1.4%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
99
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
99
1.1%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
92
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
92
1.0%
-0.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
70
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
70
0.8%
+0.4pp
New Zealander
2021 count
66
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
66
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+51
-0.3pp
Australian
-35
-1.1pp
Scottish
-16
-0.3pp
Irish
+32
+0.2pp
German
+13
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+117
+1.3pp
Italian
-13
-0.2pp
Dutch
-13
-0.2pp
Welsh
+35
+0.4pp
New Zealander
+20
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Toodyay (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 | 2,050 | 22.3% | 20.0% | 1,999 | 22.6% | 19.7% | +51 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 1,683 | 18.3% | 18.2% | 1,718 | 19.4% | 19.9% | -35 | -1.1pp |
| Scottish | 492 | 5.4% | 4.5% | 508 | 5.7% | 4.4% | -16 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 467 | 5.1% | 4.3% | 435 | 4.9% | 4.3% | +32 | +0.2pp |
| German | 176 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 163 | 1.8% | 1.7% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 125 | 1.4% | 3.9% | 8 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +117 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 99 | 1.1% | 1.9% | 112 | 1.3% | 1.8% | -13 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 92 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 105 | 1.2% | 0.9% | -13 | -0.2pp |
| Welsh | 70 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 35 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +35 | +0.4pp |
| New Zealander | 66 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 46 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +20 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 9,190 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,848 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +342 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).