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 West Arthur (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
West Arthur (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for West Arthur (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Arthur (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
351
% of total
45.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
351
45.4%
-2.2pp
Australian
2021 count
317
% of total
41.0%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
317
41.0%
-2.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
78
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
78
10.1%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
59
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
59
7.6%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
39
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
39
5.0%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
22
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-
22
2.8%
-
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
13
1.7%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
11
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
11
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-34
-2.2pp
Australian
-37
-2.8pp
Scottish
+8
+1.4pp
Irish
+3
+0.7pp
German
-3
-0.2pp
Italian
-1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for West Arthur (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 351 | 45.4% | 40.0% | 385 | 47.6% | 39.4% | -34 | -2.2pp |
| Australian | 317 | 41.0% | 36.3% | 354 | 43.8% | 39.9% | -37 | -2.8pp |
| Scottish | 78 | 10.1% | 9.0% | 70 | 8.7% | 8.8% | +8 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 59 | 7.6% | 8.6% | 56 | 6.9% | 8.7% | +3 | +0.7pp |
| German | 39 | 5.0% | 3.4% | 42 | 5.2% | 3.3% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 22 | 2.8% | 7.8% | - | - | 3.1% | - | - |
| Italian | 13 | 1.7% | 3.8% | 14 | 1.7% | 3.6% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 11 | 1.4% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).