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 Riverton (WA) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Riverton (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Riverton (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Riverton (WA), with comparison markers for Canning (C).
Chinese
2021 count
1,473
% of total
24.2%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
1,473
24.2%
+4.5pp
English
2021 count
1,413
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
1,413
23.2%
-4.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,063
% of total
17.5%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
1,063
17.5%
-1.7pp
Indian
2021 count
590
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
590
9.7%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
314
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
314
5.2%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
298
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
298
4.9%
-1.3pp
Korean
2021 count
175
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
175
2.9%
+0.3pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
146
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
146
2.4%
+1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
136
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
136
2.2%
-0.1pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
122
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
122
2.0%
+1.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+359
+4.5pp
English
-130
-4.1pp
Australian
-20
-1.7pp
Indian
+38
-0.1pp
Scottish
-58
-1.4pp
Irish
-51
-1.3pp
Korean
+27
+0.3pp
Sinhalese
+78
+1.2pp
Italian
+9
-0.1pp
Tamil, nfd
+105
+1.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Riverton (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Canning (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 1,473 | 24.2% | 18.5% | 1,114 | 19.7% | 17.6% | +359 | +4.5pp |
| English | 1,413 | 23.2% | 24.6% | 1,543 | 27.3% | 26.4% | -130 | -4.1pp |
| Australian | 1,063 | 17.5% | 18.7% | 1,083 | 19.2% | 20.2% | -20 | -1.7pp |
| Indian | 590 | 9.7% | 8.2% | 552 | 9.8% | 7.8% | +38 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 314 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 372 | 6.6% | 6.0% | -58 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 298 | 4.9% | 5.5% | 349 | 6.2% | 6.3% | -51 | -1.3pp |
| Korean | 175 | 2.9% | 1.5% | 148 | 2.6% | 1.5% | +27 | +0.3pp |
| Sinhalese | 146 | 2.4% | 0.8% | 68 | 1.2% | 0.4% | +78 | +1.2pp |
| Italian | 136 | 2.2% | 3.3% | 127 | 2.3% | 3.4% | +9 | -0.1pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 122 | 2.0% | 1.0% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +105 | +1.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).