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 York (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
York (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for York (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for York (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
1,603
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,603
23.2%
+1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,399
% of total
20.2%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
1,399
20.2%
-2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
353
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
353
5.1%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
321
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
321
4.6%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
138
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
138
2.0%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
106
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
106
1.5%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
74
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
74
1.1%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
71
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
71
1.0%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
34
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
34
0.5%
-0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
32
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
32
0.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+27
+1.3pp
Australian
-205
-2.1pp
Scottish
+28
+0.6pp
Irish
+23
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+133
+1.9pp
German
-7
-0.1pp
Dutch
+3
+0.1pp
Italian
+8
+0.1pp
New Zealander
-16
-0.2pp
Maori
-13
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for York (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 | 1,603 | 23.2% | 20.0% | 1,576 | 21.9% | 19.7% | +27 | +1.3pp |
| Australian | 1,399 | 20.2% | 18.2% | 1,604 | 22.3% | 19.9% | -205 | -2.1pp |
| Scottish | 353 | 5.1% | 4.5% | 325 | 4.5% | 4.4% | +28 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 321 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 298 | 4.1% | 4.3% | +23 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 138 | 2.0% | 3.9% | 5 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +133 | +1.9pp |
| German | 106 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 113 | 1.6% | 1.7% | -7 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 74 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 71 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 71 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 63 | 0.9% | 1.8% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 34 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 50 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -16 | -0.2pp |
| Maori | 32 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 45 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -13 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 6,916 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,194 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -278 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).