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 Wimmera (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
West Wimmera (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for West Wimmera (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Wimmera (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
1,710
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,710
21.4%
+0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,706
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
1,706
21.3%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
466
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
466
5.8%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
429
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
429
5.4%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
360
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
360
4.5%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
64
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
64
0.8%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
64
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
64
0.8%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
45
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
45
0.6%
-
Filipino
2021 count
27
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
27
0.3%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
24
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
24
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+55
+0.1pp
Australian
-84
-1.7pp
Scottish
0
-0.2pp
Irish
+12
0.0pp
German
+45
+0.5pp
Dutch
+22
+0.3pp
Italian
+24
+0.3pp
Filipino
+13
+0.1pp
Indian
+4
0.0pp
Welsh
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for West Wimmera (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,710 | 21.4% | 20.3% | 1,655 | 21.3% | 20.0% | +55 | +0.1pp |
| Australian | 1,706 | 21.3% | 19.6% | 1,790 | 23.0% | 20.0% | -84 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 466 | 5.8% | 5.8% | 466 | 6.0% | 5.7% | 0 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 429 | 5.4% | 6.4% | 417 | 5.4% | 6.5% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| German | 360 | 4.5% | 2.3% | 315 | 4.0% | 2.3% | +45 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 64 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 42 | 0.5% | 1.1% | +22 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 64 | 0.8% | 1.9% | 40 | 0.5% | 1.8% | +24 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 45 | 0.6% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Filipino | 27 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 14 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 24 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 20 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 8,008 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,788 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +220 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).