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 Eglinton (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Eglinton (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Eglinton (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Eglinton (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
1,756
% of total
23.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,756
23.7%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
1,011
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-5.2pp
1,011
13.7%
-5.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
390
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
390
5.3%
+2.7pp
Irish
2021 count
336
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
336
4.5%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
137
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
137
1.9%
-0.1pp
South African
2021 count
122
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
122
1.6%
-
Maori
2021 count
108
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
108
1.5%
-
German
2021 count
90
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
90
1.2%
-1.4pp
Welsh
2021 count
78
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
78
1.1%
-
African, so described
2021 count
68
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
68
0.9%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,706
-1.8pp
Australian
+974
-5.2pp
Scottish
+385
+2.7pp
Irish
+329
+0.9pp
Italian
+133
-0.1pp
German
+85
-1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Eglinton (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 | 1,756 | 23.7% | 19.9% | 50 | 25.5% | 19.7% | +1,706 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 1,011 | 13.7% | 13.1% | 37 | 18.9% | 13.3% | +974 | -5.2pp |
| Scottish | 390 | 5.3% | 4.3% | 5 | 2.6% | 4.2% | +385 | +2.7pp |
| Irish | 336 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 7 | 3.6% | 4.1% | +329 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 137 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 4 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +133 | -0.1pp |
| South African | 122 | 1.6% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Maori | 108 | 1.5% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| German | 90 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 5 | 2.6% | 1.3% | +85 | -1.4pp |
| Welsh | 78 | 1.1% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| African, so described | 68 | 0.9% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 7,395 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 196 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,199 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).