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 Ridgewood (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ridgewood (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ridgewood (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ridgewood (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
2,099
% of total
45.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,099
45.4%
+1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
1,367
% of total
29.6%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
1,367
29.6%
+3.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
428
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
428
9.3%
-0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
404
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
404
8.7%
+0.3pp
Maori
2021 count
123
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
123
2.7%
-0.7pp
South African
2021 count
117
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
117
2.5%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
114
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
114
2.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
112
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
112
2.4%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
85
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
85
1.8%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
66
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
66
1.4%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+60
+1.8pp
Australian
+127
+3.1pp
Scottish
-41
-0.7pp
Irish
+13
+0.3pp
Maori
-36
-0.7pp
South African
-4
-0.1pp
Italian
0
+0.1pp
German
0
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+70
+1.5pp
Dutch
-36
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ridgewood (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 | 2,099 | 45.4% | 39.7% | 2,039 | 43.6% | 39.4% | +60 | +1.8pp |
| Australian | 1,367 | 29.6% | 26.3% | 1,240 | 26.5% | 26.6% | +127 | +3.1pp |
| Scottish | 428 | 9.3% | 8.5% | 469 | 10.0% | 8.3% | -41 | -0.7pp |
| Irish | 404 | 8.7% | 8.5% | 391 | 8.4% | 8.3% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| Maori | 123 | 2.7% | 1.7% | 159 | 3.4% | 1.7% | -36 | -0.7pp |
| South African | 117 | 2.5% | 2.4% | 121 | 2.6% | 2.3% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 114 | 2.5% | 4.6% | 114 | 2.4% | 4.5% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| German | 112 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 112 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 85 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +70 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 66 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 102 | 2.2% | 1.7% | -36 | -0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).