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 Cockburn (C) were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cockburn (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cockburn (C) 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 Cockburn (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
English
2021 count
40,986
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
40,986
17.4%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
33,865
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
33,865
14.3%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
10,389
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10,389
4.4%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
10,155
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
10,155
4.3%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
9,489
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
9,489
4.0%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
6,388
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
6,388
2.7%
+0.1pp
Croatian
2021 count
3,533
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,533
1.5%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
3,406
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,406
1.4%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
3,301
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,301
1.4%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
3,223
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,223
1.4%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,409
+0.4pp
Australian
+3,937
0.0pp
Italian
+1,165
0.0pp
Scottish
+1,494
+0.2pp
Irish
+742
-0.2pp
Chinese
+860
+0.1pp
Croatian
+632
+0.1pp
Indian
+577
0.0pp
Filipino
+735
+0.2pp
German
+421
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cockburn (C). 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 | 40,986 | 17.4% | 18.5% | 35,577 | 17.0% | 18.6% | +5,409 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 33,865 | 14.3% | 14.0% | 29,928 | 14.3% | 14.1% | +3,937 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 10,389 | 4.4% | 2.8% | 9,224 | 4.4% | 2.7% | +1,165 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 10,155 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 8,661 | 4.1% | 4.3% | +1,494 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 9,489 | 4.0% | 4.4% | 8,747 | 4.2% | 4.6% | +742 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 6,388 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 5,528 | 2.6% | 2.6% | +860 | +0.1pp |
| Croatian | 3,533 | 1.5% | 0.5% | 2,901 | 1.4% | 0.4% | +632 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 3,406 | 1.4% | 1.7% | 2,829 | 1.4% | 1.7% | +577 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 3,301 | 1.4% | 0.9% | 2,566 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +735 | +0.2pp |
| German | 3,223 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2,802 | 1.3% | 1.4% | +421 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 236,107 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 208,955 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +27,152 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).