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 Karratha (C) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Karratha (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Karratha (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Karratha (C), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
7,275
% of total
32.8%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
7,275
32.8%
-7.6pp
English
2021 count
6,778
% of total
30.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,778
30.5%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,268
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
2,268
10.2%
+6.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,619
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,619
7.3%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,602
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,602
7.2%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
696
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
696
3.1%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
609
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
609
2.7%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
595
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
595
2.7%
-0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
455
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
455
2.0%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
361
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
361
1.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,394
-7.6pp
English
+206
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,500
+6.6pp
Irish
-3
-0.3pp
Scottish
-22
-0.4pp
German
+50
+0.1pp
Italian
+94
+0.3pp
Filipino
-4
-0.1pp
Maori
-5
-0.1pp
Dutch
+23
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Karratha (C). 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 | 7,275 | 32.8% | 36.3% | 8,669 | 40.4% | 39.9% | -1,394 | -7.6pp |
| English | 6,778 | 30.5% | 40.0% | 6,572 | 30.6% | 39.4% | +206 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,268 | 10.2% | 7.8% | 768 | 3.6% | 3.1% | +1,500 | +6.6pp |
| Irish | 1,619 | 7.3% | 8.6% | 1,622 | 7.6% | 8.7% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,602 | 7.2% | 9.0% | 1,624 | 7.6% | 8.8% | -22 | -0.4pp |
| German | 696 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 646 | 3.0% | 3.3% | +50 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 609 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 515 | 2.4% | 3.6% | +94 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 595 | 2.7% | 1.5% | 599 | 2.8% | 1.3% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Maori | 455 | 2.0% | 1.3% | 460 | 2.1% | 1.2% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 361 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 338 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +23 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).