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 Broome (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Broome (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Broome (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Broome (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
4,903
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
4,903
14.5%
-5.4pp
English
2021 count
4,700
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
4,700
13.9%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
4,474
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
4,474
13.2%
+7.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,307
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,307
3.9%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,224
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,224
3.6%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
479
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
479
1.4%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
458
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
458
1.4%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
298
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
298
0.9%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
286
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
286
0.8%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
257
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
257
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,569
-5.4pp
English
-44
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2,503
+7.1pp
Irish
+64
+0.1pp
Scottish
+93
+0.1pp
Italian
+65
+0.1pp
German
-17
-0.1pp
Chinese
+4
0.0pp
Filipino
+30
0.0pp
Dutch
+30
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Broome (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 | 4,903 | 14.5% | 18.2% | 6,472 | 19.9% | 19.9% | -1,569 | -5.4pp |
| English | 4,700 | 13.9% | 20.0% | 4,744 | 14.6% | 19.7% | -44 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 4,474 | 13.2% | 3.9% | 1,971 | 6.1% | 1.5% | +2,503 | +7.1pp |
| Irish | 1,307 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 1,243 | 3.8% | 4.3% | +64 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,224 | 3.6% | 4.5% | 1,131 | 3.5% | 4.4% | +93 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 479 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 414 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +65 | +0.1pp |
| German | 458 | 1.4% | 1.7% | 475 | 1.5% | 1.7% | -17 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 298 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 294 | 0.9% | 0.4% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 286 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 256 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +30 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 257 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 227 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +30 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 33,857 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 32,444 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,413 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).