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 Claremont (T) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Claremont (T) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Claremont (T) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Claremont (T), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
English
2021 count
4,980
% of total
22.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,980
22.1%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
3,416
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,416
15.2%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,426
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,426
6.3%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,403
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,403
6.2%
-0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
719
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
719
3.2%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
419
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
419
1.9%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
413
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
413
1.8%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
239
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
239
1.1%
+0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
176
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
176
0.8%
0.0pp
South African
2021 count
162
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
162
0.7%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+784
+1.2pp
Australian
+329
-0.2pp
Scottish
+190
+0.1pp
Irish
+95
-0.3pp
Chinese
+235
+0.8pp
German
+100
+0.3pp
Italian
+116
+0.3pp
Dutch
+88
+0.3pp
Indian
+15
0.0pp
South African
+39
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Claremont (T). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,980 | 22.1% | 18.5% | 4,196 | 20.9% | 18.6% | +784 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 3,416 | 15.2% | 14.0% | 3,087 | 15.4% | 14.1% | +329 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,426 | 6.3% | 4.3% | 1,236 | 6.2% | 4.3% | +190 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,403 | 6.2% | 4.4% | 1,308 | 6.5% | 4.6% | +95 | -0.3pp |
| Chinese | 719 | 3.2% | 2.7% | 484 | 2.4% | 2.6% | +235 | +0.8pp |
| German | 419 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 319 | 1.6% | 1.4% | +100 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 413 | 1.8% | 2.8% | 297 | 1.5% | 2.7% | +116 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 239 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 151 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +88 | +0.3pp |
| Indian | 176 | 0.8% | 1.7% | 161 | 0.8% | 1.7% | +15 | 0.0pp |
| South African | 162 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 123 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +39 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 22,538 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20,088 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,450 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).