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 Wiluna (S) were Australian Aboriginal, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wiluna (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wiluna (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wiluna (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
131
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
131
12.3%
+0.1pp
English
2021 count
123
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
123
11.5%
-0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
73
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
73
6.8%
-2.8pp
Irish
2021 count
28
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
28
2.6%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
23
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
23
2.2%
0.0pp
Fijian
2021 count
15
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15
1.4%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
14
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
14
1.3%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
13
1.2%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
-49
+0.1pp
English
-58
-0.8pp
Australian
-69
-2.8pp
Irish
-20
-0.7pp
Scottish
-10
0.0pp
Fijian
-7
-0.1pp
German
-4
+0.1pp
Italian
+2
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wiluna (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 | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 131 | 12.3% | 3.9% | 180 | 12.2% | 1.5% | -49 | +0.1pp |
| English | 123 | 11.5% | 20.0% | 181 | 12.3% | 19.7% | -58 | -0.8pp |
| Australian | 73 | 6.8% | 18.2% | 142 | 9.6% | 19.9% | -69 | -2.8pp |
| Irish | 28 | 2.6% | 4.3% | 48 | 3.3% | 4.3% | -20 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 23 | 2.2% | 4.5% | 33 | 2.2% | 4.4% | -10 | 0.0pp |
| Fijian | 15 | 1.4% | 0.0% | 22 | 1.5% | 0.0% | -7 | -0.1pp |
| German | 14 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 18 | 1.2% | 1.7% | -4 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 13 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 11 | 0.7% | 1.8% | +2 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 1,066 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,472 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -406 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).