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 Mindarie (WA) were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Mindarie (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Mindarie (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mindarie (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).

Mindarie (WA)
Wanneroo (C)

English

2021 count

4,171

% of total

53.0%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Australian

2021 count

1,697

% of total

21.6%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Irish

2021 count

888

% of total

11.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Scottish

2021 count

851

% of total

10.8%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

South African

2021 count

402

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

German

2021 count

279

% of total

3.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Italian

2021 count

273

% of total

3.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Dutch

2021 count

187

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Welsh

2021 count

144

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Chinese

2021 count

126

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Data table

Ancestry for Mindarie (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).

Ancestry for Mindarie (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
Ancestry for Mindarie (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Wanneroo (C)%Count%Wanneroo (C)%Countpp
English4,17153.0%39.7%3,92452.2%39.4%+247+0.8pp
Australian1,69721.6%26.3%1,56920.9%26.6%+128+0.7pp
Irish88811.3%8.5%81710.9%8.3%+71+0.4pp
Scottish85110.8%8.5%79910.6%8.3%+52+0.2pp
South African4025.1%2.4%3955.3%2.3%+7-0.2pp
German2793.5%2.6%2713.6%2.5%+8-0.1pp
Italian2733.5%4.6%2693.6%4.5%+4-0.1pp
Dutch1872.4%1.8%1321.8%1.7%+55+0.6pp
Welsh1441.8%1.1%1411.9%1.1%+3-0.1pp
Chinese1261.6%2.4%1151.5%2.3%+11+0.1pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).