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 Madeley were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Madeley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Madeley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Madeley, with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
2,107
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
2,107
15.5%
-1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,735
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-11.6pp
1,735
12.8%
-11.6pp
Italian
2021 count
599
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-
599
4.4%
-
Irish
2021 count
514
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
514
3.8%
-4.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
454
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
454
3.3%
-2.8pp
Indian
2021 count
406
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-
406
3.0%
-
Chinese
2021 count
362
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
362
2.7%
-
Macedonian
2021 count
268
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
268
2.0%
-
South African
2021 count
185
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
185
1.4%
-
Vietnamese
2021 count
158
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
158
1.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,093
-1.6pp
Australian
+1,715
-11.6pp
Irish
+507
-4.7pp
Scottish
+449
-2.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Madeley. 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 | 2,107 | 15.5% | 19.9% | 14 | 17.1% | 19.7% | +2,093 | -1.6pp |
| Australian | 1,735 | 12.8% | 13.1% | 20 | 24.4% | 13.3% | +1,715 | -11.6pp |
| Italian | 599 | 4.4% | 2.3% | - | - | 2.2% | - | - |
| Irish | 514 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 7 | 8.5% | 4.1% | +507 | -4.7pp |
| Scottish | 454 | 3.3% | 4.3% | 5 | 6.1% | 4.2% | +449 | -2.8pp |
| Indian | 406 | 3.0% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Chinese | 362 | 2.7% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Macedonian | 268 | 2.0% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| South African | 185 | 1.4% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 158 | 1.2% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Total | 13,589 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 82 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,507 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).