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 Waroona were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Waroona - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Waroona in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Waroona (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Waroona, with comparison markers for Waroona (S).
English
2021 count
1,286
% of total
44.8%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
1,286
44.8%
+4.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,039
% of total
36.2%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
1,039
36.2%
-3.8pp
Italian
2021 count
360
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
360
12.6%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
289
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
289
10.1%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
229
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
229
8.0%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
115
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
115
4.0%
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
106
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
106
3.7%
+3.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
46
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
46
1.6%
+0.5pp
New Zealander
2021 count
36
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
36
1.3%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
30
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
30
1.0%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+102
+4.4pp
Australian
-134
-3.8pp
Italian
-3
+0.2pp
Scottish
+29
+1.2pp
Irish
+3
+0.3pp
German
+32
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+100
+3.5pp
Filipino
+13
+0.5pp
New Zealander
+7
+0.3pp
Dutch
-6
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Waroona. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waroona (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Waroona (S)% | Count | % | Waroona (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,286 | 44.8% | 44.0% | 1,184 | 40.4% | 41.4% | +102 | +4.4pp |
| Australian | 1,039 | 36.2% | 37.0% | 1,173 | 40.0% | 39.6% | -134 | -3.8pp |
| Italian | 360 | 12.6% | 11.0% | 363 | 12.4% | 11.0% | -3 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 289 | 10.1% | 10.0% | 260 | 8.9% | 9.2% | +29 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 229 | 8.0% | 8.3% | 226 | 7.7% | 7.7% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| German | 115 | 4.0% | 4.1% | 83 | 2.8% | 3.2% | +32 | +1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 106 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 6 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +100 | +3.5pp |
| Filipino | 46 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 33 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| New Zealander | 36 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 29 | 1.0% | 1.3% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 30 | 1.0% | 1.5% | 36 | 1.2% | 1.5% | -6 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).