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 Victoria Plains (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Victoria Plains (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Victoria Plains (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Victoria Plains (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
330
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
330
20.9%
+0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
296
% of total
18.7%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
296
18.7%
-3.2pp
Irish
2021 count
90
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
90
5.7%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
87
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
87
5.5%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
33
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-
33
2.1%
-
German
2021 count
28
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
28
1.8%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
19
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
19
1.2%
+0.4pp
Maori
2021 count
18
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18
1.1%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
15
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
15
0.9%
-0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
13
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
13
0.8%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-50
+0.1pp
Australian
-104
-3.2pp
Irish
-25
-0.6pp
Scottish
-26
-0.7pp
German
-2
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+5
+0.4pp
Maori
+4
+0.3pp
Italian
-8
-0.4pp
Filipino
-13
-0.6pp
Dutch
0
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Victoria Plains (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 | 330 | 20.9% | 20.0% | 380 | 20.8% | 19.7% | -50 | +0.1pp |
| Australian | 296 | 18.7% | 18.2% | 400 | 21.9% | 19.9% | -104 | -3.2pp |
| Irish | 90 | 5.7% | 4.3% | 115 | 6.3% | 4.3% | -25 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 87 | 5.5% | 4.5% | 113 | 6.2% | 4.4% | -26 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 33 | 2.1% | 3.9% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| German | 28 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 30 | 1.6% | 1.7% | -2 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 19 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 14 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| Maori | 18 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 14 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 15 | 0.9% | 1.9% | 23 | 1.3% | 1.8% | -8 | -0.4pp |
| Filipino | 13 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 26 | 1.4% | 0.7% | -13 | -0.6pp |
| Total | 1,580 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,828 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -248 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).