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 Coast (M) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
West Coast (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for West Coast (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Coast (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Australian
2021 count
1,817
% of total
42.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
1,817
42.6%
-2.4pp
English
2021 count
1,768
% of total
41.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,768
41.5%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
427
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
427
10.0%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
312
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
312
7.3%
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
294
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
294
6.9%
+6.6pp
German
2021 count
191
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
191
4.5%
-0.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
68
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
68
1.6%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
38
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
38
0.9%
-0.2pp
Polish
2021 count
38
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
38
0.9%
+0.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
30
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
30
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-52
-2.4pp
English
+1
-1.1pp
Irish
-65
-1.9pp
Scottish
-36
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+282
+6.6pp
German
-28
-0.8pp
Dutch
+14
+0.3pp
Italian
-7
-0.2pp
Polish
+27
+0.6pp
Welsh
+10
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for West Coast (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,817 | 42.6% | 42.7% | 1,869 | 45.0% | 45.0% | -52 | -2.4pp |
| English | 1,768 | 41.5% | 44.6% | 1,767 | 42.6% | 44.6% | +1 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 427 | 10.0% | 9.7% | 492 | 11.9% | 10.2% | -65 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 312 | 7.3% | 9.5% | 348 | 8.4% | 9.2% | -36 | -1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 294 | 6.9% | 5.4% | 12 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +282 | +6.6pp |
| German | 191 | 4.5% | 3.5% | 219 | 5.3% | 3.4% | -28 | -0.8pp |
| Dutch | 68 | 1.6% | 2.2% | 54 | 1.3% | 2.1% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 38 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 45 | 1.1% | 1.2% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Polish | 38 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 11 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +27 | +0.6pp |
| Welsh | 30 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 20 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +10 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).