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 Wyalkatchem (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wyalkatchem (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wyalkatchem (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wyalkatchem (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
201
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
201
21.3%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
170
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
170
18.0%
-3.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
59
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
59
6.3%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
38
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
38
4.0%
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
29
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-
29
3.1%
-
German
2021 count
14
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
14
1.5%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
13
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
13
1.4%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
12
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
+1.1pp
Australian
-49
-3.6pp
Scottish
+9
+1.4pp
Irish
+6
+0.9pp
German
-1
0.0pp
Indian
+9
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wyalkatchem (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 | 201 | 21.3% | 20.0% | 205 | 20.2% | 19.7% | -4 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 170 | 18.0% | 18.2% | 219 | 21.6% | 19.9% | -49 | -3.6pp |
| Scottish | 59 | 6.3% | 4.5% | 50 | 4.9% | 4.4% | +9 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 38 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 32 | 3.1% | 4.3% | +6 | +0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 29 | 3.1% | 3.9% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| German | 14 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 15 | 1.5% | 1.7% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 13 | 1.4% | 0.4% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +9 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 12 | 1.3% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Total | 944 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,016 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -72 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).