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 Tapping were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Tapping - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Tapping in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tapping, with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
4,488
% of total
47.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
4,488
47.0%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
2,545
% of total
26.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
2,545
26.7%
+1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,083
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,083
11.3%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
992
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
992
10.4%
+0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
491
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
491
5.1%
-0.6pp
South African
2021 count
295
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
295
3.1%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
274
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
274
2.9%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
234
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
234
2.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
189
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
189
2.0%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
171
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
171
1.8%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+134
+1.0pp
Australian
+151
+1.4pp
Scottish
+20
+0.1pp
Irish
+42
+0.4pp
Indian
-46
-0.6pp
South African
-14
-0.2pp
Italian
0
0.0pp
German
+20
+0.2pp
Dutch
+2
0.0pp
Chinese
-16
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Tapping. 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 | 4,488 | 47.0% | 39.7% | 4,354 | 46.0% | 39.4% | +134 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 2,545 | 26.7% | 26.3% | 2,394 | 25.3% | 26.6% | +151 | +1.4pp |
| Scottish | 1,083 | 11.3% | 8.5% | 1,063 | 11.2% | 8.3% | +20 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 992 | 10.4% | 8.5% | 950 | 10.0% | 8.3% | +42 | +0.4pp |
| Indian | 491 | 5.1% | 3.3% | 537 | 5.7% | 3.1% | -46 | -0.6pp |
| South African | 295 | 3.1% | 2.4% | 309 | 3.3% | 2.3% | -14 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 274 | 2.9% | 4.6% | 274 | 2.9% | 4.5% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| German | 234 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 214 | 2.3% | 2.5% | +20 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 189 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 187 | 2.0% | 1.7% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 171 | 1.8% | 2.4% | 187 | 2.0% | 2.3% | -16 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).