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 Beachport were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Beachport - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Beachport in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wattle Range (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Beachport, with comparison markers for Wattle Range (DC).
English
2021 count
328
% of total
44.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
328
44.0%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
300
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
300
40.3%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
81
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
81
10.9%
-3.2pp
German
2021 count
81
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
81
10.9%
+1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
60
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
60
8.1%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
31
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
31
4.2%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
16
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
16
2.1%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+44
+0.4pp
Australian
+25
-1.9pp
Scottish
-11
-3.2pp
German
+17
+1.1pp
Irish
+4
-0.5pp
Italian
+15
+1.7pp
Dutch
+8
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Beachport. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wattle Range (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wattle Range (DC)% | Count | % | Wattle Range (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 328 | 44.0% | 42.6% | 284 | 43.6% | 41.0% | +44 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 300 | 40.3% | 44.0% | 275 | 42.2% | 46.1% | +25 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 81 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 92 | 14.1% | 11.1% | -11 | -3.2pp |
| German | 81 | 10.9% | 7.5% | 64 | 9.8% | 7.8% | +17 | +1.1pp |
| Irish | 60 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 56 | 8.6% | 8.5% | +4 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 31 | 4.2% | 2.9% | 16 | 2.5% | 2.9% | +15 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 16 | 2.1% | 2.5% | 8 | 1.2% | 2.4% | +8 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).