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 Ashby (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ashby (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ashby (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ashby (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
1,314
% of total
46.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,314
46.1%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
758
% of total
26.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
758
26.6%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
317
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
317
11.1%
+2.6pp
Irish
2021 count
294
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
294
10.3%
+1.1pp
Indian
2021 count
128
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
128
4.5%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
121
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
121
4.2%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
74
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
74
2.6%
+0.2pp
South African
2021 count
72
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
72
2.5%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
61
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
61
2.1%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
53
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
53
1.9%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+84
-0.1pp
Australian
+23
-1.0pp
Scottish
+90
+2.6pp
Irish
+49
+1.1pp
Indian
+3
-0.2pp
Italian
+1
-0.3pp
German
+9
+0.2pp
South African
+15
+0.4pp
Chinese
+30
+0.9pp
Dutch
+4
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ashby (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,314 | 46.1% | 39.7% | 1,230 | 46.2% | 39.4% | +84 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 758 | 26.6% | 26.3% | 735 | 27.6% | 26.6% | +23 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 317 | 11.1% | 8.5% | 227 | 8.5% | 8.3% | +90 | +2.6pp |
| Irish | 294 | 10.3% | 8.5% | 245 | 9.2% | 8.3% | +49 | +1.1pp |
| Indian | 128 | 4.5% | 3.3% | 125 | 4.7% | 3.1% | +3 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 121 | 4.2% | 4.6% | 120 | 4.5% | 4.5% | +1 | -0.3pp |
| German | 74 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 65 | 2.4% | 2.5% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| South African | 72 | 2.5% | 2.4% | 57 | 2.1% | 2.3% | +15 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 61 | 2.1% | 2.4% | 31 | 1.2% | 2.3% | +30 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 53 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 49 | 1.8% | 1.7% | +4 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).