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 Clackline were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Clackline - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Clackline in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northam (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Clackline, with comparison markers for Northam (S).
English
2021 count
159
% of total
48.2%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
159
48.2%
-5.3pp
Australian
2021 count
117
% of total
35.5%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
117
35.5%
-4.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
40
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
40
12.1%
-5.0pp
Irish
2021 count
39
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
39
11.8%
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
14
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
14
4.2%
-
German
2021 count
14
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
14
4.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-7
-5.3pp
Australian
-8
-4.8pp
Scottish
-13
-5.0pp
Irish
+6
+1.2pp
German
0
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Clackline. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Northam (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Northam (S)% | Count | % | Northam (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 159 | 48.2% | 40.7% | 166 | 53.5% | 39.1% | -7 | -5.3pp |
| Australian | 117 | 35.5% | 38.9% | 125 | 40.3% | 41.2% | -8 | -4.8pp |
| Scottish | 40 | 12.1% | 9.1% | 53 | 17.1% | 8.9% | -13 | -5.0pp |
| Irish | 39 | 11.8% | 8.8% | 33 | 10.6% | 7.8% | +6 | +1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 14 | 4.2% | 5.9% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| German | 14 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 14 | 4.5% | 3.1% | 0 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).