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 Westonia (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Westonia (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Westonia (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Westonia (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
120
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
120
24.3%
+2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
90
% of total
18.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
90
18.3%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
22
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
22
4.5%
+0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
18
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
18
3.7%
-1.1pp
German
2021 count
17
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
17
3.4%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
16
3.2%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
11
2.2%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-8
+2.5pp
Australian
-25
-1.3pp
Irish
-1
+0.6pp
Scottish
-10
-1.1pp
German
+3
+1.0pp
Italian
0
+0.5pp
Dutch
+7
+1.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Westonia (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 | 120 | 24.3% | 20.0% | 128 | 21.8% | 19.7% | -8 | +2.5pp |
| Australian | 90 | 18.3% | 18.2% | 115 | 19.6% | 19.9% | -25 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 22 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 23 | 3.9% | 4.3% | -1 | +0.6pp |
| Scottish | 18 | 3.7% | 4.5% | 28 | 4.8% | 4.4% | -10 | -1.1pp |
| German | 17 | 3.4% | 1.7% | 14 | 2.4% | 1.7% | +3 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 16 | 3.2% | 1.9% | 16 | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 2.2% | 1.0% | 4 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +7 | +1.5pp |
| Total | 493 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 588 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -95 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).