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 Dampier were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dampier - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dampier in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dampier, with comparison markers for Karratha (C).
Australian
2021 count
581
% of total
45.3%
Change from 2016
-6.2pp
581
45.3%
-6.2pp
English
2021 count
480
% of total
37.4%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
480
37.4%
+2.5pp
Irish
2021 count
128
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
128
10.0%
+1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
101
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
101
7.9%
-1.4pp
German
2021 count
47
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
47
3.7%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
42
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
42
3.3%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
35
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
35
2.7%
-0.6pp
New Zealander
2021 count
21
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
21
1.6%
-0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
19
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
19
1.5%
-0.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
16
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
16
1.2%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+12
-6.2pp
English
+95
+2.5pp
Irish
+36
+1.7pp
Scottish
-2
-1.4pp
German
+18
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+24
+1.7pp
Italian
-1
-0.6pp
New Zealander
-3
-0.6pp
Dutch
-3
-0.5pp
Filipino
+13
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dampier. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 581 | 45.3% | 32.8% | 569 | 51.5% | 40.4% | +12 | -6.2pp |
| English | 480 | 37.4% | 30.5% | 385 | 34.9% | 30.6% | +95 | +2.5pp |
| Irish | 128 | 10.0% | 7.3% | 92 | 8.3% | 7.6% | +36 | +1.7pp |
| Scottish | 101 | 7.9% | 7.2% | 103 | 9.3% | 7.6% | -2 | -1.4pp |
| German | 47 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 29 | 2.6% | 3.0% | +18 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 42 | 3.3% | 10.2% | 18 | 1.6% | 3.6% | +24 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 35 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 36 | 3.3% | 2.4% | -1 | -0.6pp |
| New Zealander | 21 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 24 | 2.2% | 1.7% | -3 | -0.6pp |
| Dutch | 19 | 1.5% | 1.6% | 22 | 2.0% | 1.6% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| Filipino | 16 | 1.2% | 2.7% | 3 | 0.3% | 2.8% | +13 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).