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 Southern Cross (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Southern Cross (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Southern Cross (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yilgarn (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southern Cross (WA), with comparison markers for Yilgarn (S).
English
2021 count
233
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
233
20.5%
-4.1pp
Australian
2021 count
197
% of total
17.3%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
197
17.3%
-3.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
61
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
61
5.4%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
51
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
51
4.5%
+3.6pp
Irish
2021 count
49
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
49
4.3%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
18
1.6%
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
15
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
15
1.3%
-
Filipino
2021 count
14
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
14
1.2%
-
Maori
2021 count
11
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
11
1.0%
-
Indian
2021 count
11
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
11
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1
-4.1pp
Australian
-4
-3.8pp
Scottish
+11
+0.2pp
Italian
+42
+3.6pp
Irish
+10
+0.2pp
German
-5
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Southern Cross (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yilgarn (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Yilgarn (S)% | Count | % | Yilgarn (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 233 | 20.5% | 18.3% | 234 | 24.6% | 18.5% | -1 | -4.1pp |
| Australian | 197 | 17.3% | 15.8% | 201 | 21.1% | 18.8% | -4 | -3.8pp |
| Scottish | 61 | 5.4% | 5.2% | 50 | 5.2% | 5.0% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 51 | 4.5% | 4.4% | 9 | 0.9% | 4.7% | +42 | +3.6pp |
| Irish | 49 | 4.3% | 4.0% | 39 | 4.1% | 4.3% | +10 | +0.2pp |
| German | 18 | 1.6% | 2.1% | 23 | 2.4% | 1.8% | -5 | -0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 15 | 1.3% | 1.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Filipino | 14 | 1.2% | 1.7% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Maori | 11 | 1.0% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Indian | 11 | 1.0% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 1,139 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 953 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +186 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).