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 Highgate (WA) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Highgate (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Highgate (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Vincent (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Highgate (WA), with comparison markers for Vincent (C).
English
2021 count
746
% of total
32.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
746
32.1%
+2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
535
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
535
23.0%
+1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
245
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
245
10.5%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
209
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
209
9.0%
+1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
198
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
198
8.5%
+0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
158
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
158
6.8%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
81
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
81
3.5%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
58
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
58
2.5%
+1.0pp
Indian
2021 count
54
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
54
2.3%
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
51
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
51
2.2%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+67
+2.5pp
Australian
+44
+1.6pp
Irish
-2
-0.3pp
Italian
+29
+1.1pp
Scottish
+14
+0.5pp
Chinese
+5
+0.1pp
German
+2
+0.1pp
Dutch
+23
+1.0pp
Indian
+6
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
+5
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Highgate (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Vincent (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Vincent (C)% | Count | % | Vincent (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 746 | 32.1% | 34.1% | 679 | 29.6% | 31.9% | +67 | +2.5pp |
| Australian | 535 | 23.0% | 26.4% | 491 | 21.4% | 25.1% | +44 | +1.6pp |
| Irish | 245 | 10.5% | 11.9% | 247 | 10.8% | 11.9% | -2 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 209 | 9.0% | 10.3% | 180 | 7.9% | 10.2% | +29 | +1.1pp |
| Scottish | 198 | 8.5% | 9.7% | 184 | 8.0% | 8.7% | +14 | +0.5pp |
| Chinese | 158 | 6.8% | 6.1% | 153 | 6.7% | 5.4% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| German | 81 | 3.5% | 3.5% | 79 | 3.4% | 3.4% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 58 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 35 | 1.5% | 1.7% | +23 | +1.0pp |
| Indian | 54 | 2.3% | 2.1% | 48 | 2.1% | 1.7% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 51 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 46 | 2.0% | 2.0% | +5 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).