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 Girrawheen were English, Australian and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Girrawheen - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Girrawheen in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Girrawheen, with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
2,405
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,405
27.0%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,004
% of total
22.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
2,004
22.5%
-1.9pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
623
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
623
7.0%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
520
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
520
5.8%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
495
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
495
5.6%
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
373
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
373
4.2%
+3.6pp
Italian
2021 count
348
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
348
3.9%
+0.5pp
Burmese
2021 count
297
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
297
3.3%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
270
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
270
3.0%
+0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
249
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
249
2.8%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+91
+0.6pp
Australian
-136
-1.9pp
Vietnamese
-91
-1.2pp
Scottish
+56
+0.5pp
Irish
-30
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+324
+3.6pp
Italian
+46
+0.5pp
Burmese
+5
0.0pp
Chinese
+40
+0.4pp
Filipino
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Girrawheen. 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 | 2,405 | 27.0% | 39.7% | 2,314 | 26.4% | 39.4% | +91 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 2,004 | 22.5% | 26.3% | 2,140 | 24.4% | 26.6% | -136 | -1.9pp |
| Vietnamese | 623 | 7.0% | 2.4% | 714 | 8.2% | 2.7% | -91 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 520 | 5.8% | 8.5% | 464 | 5.3% | 8.3% | +56 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 495 | 5.6% | 8.5% | 525 | 6.0% | 8.3% | -30 | -0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 373 | 4.2% | 1.8% | 49 | 0.6% | 0.2% | +324 | +3.6pp |
| Italian | 348 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 302 | 3.4% | 4.5% | +46 | +0.5pp |
| Burmese | 297 | 3.3% | 0.7% | 292 | 3.3% | 0.7% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 270 | 3.0% | 2.4% | 230 | 2.6% | 2.3% | +40 | +0.4pp |
| Filipino | 249 | 2.8% | 1.7% | 246 | 2.8% | 1.4% | +3 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).