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 Wagin (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wagin (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wagin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wagin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
806
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
806
23.0%
+0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
728
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
728
20.8%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
155
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
155
4.4%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
151
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
151
4.3%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
58
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
58
1.7%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
46
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
46
1.3%
+1.2pp
Maori
2021 count
38
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
38
1.1%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
38
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
38
1.1%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
37
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
37
1.1%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
35
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
1.0%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-8
+0.9pp
Australian
-103
-1.8pp
Scottish
+3
+0.3pp
Irish
+8
+0.4pp
German
-14
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+41
+1.2pp
Maori
+3
+0.1pp
Dutch
+7
+0.3pp
Filipino
+33
+1.0pp
Italian
-2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wagin (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 | 806 | 23.0% | 20.0% | 814 | 22.1% | 19.7% | -8 | +0.9pp |
| Australian | 728 | 20.8% | 18.2% | 831 | 22.6% | 19.9% | -103 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 155 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 152 | 4.1% | 4.4% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 151 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 143 | 3.9% | 4.3% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| German | 58 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 72 | 2.0% | 1.7% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 46 | 1.3% | 3.9% | 5 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +41 | +1.2pp |
| Maori | 38 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 35 | 1.0% | 0.6% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 38 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 31 | 0.8% | 0.9% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 37 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.7% | +33 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 35 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 37 | 1.0% | 1.8% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 3,498 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,683 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -185 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).