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 Northam (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Northam (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Northam (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northam (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
4,619
% of total
40.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
4,619
40.7%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
4,423
% of total
38.9%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
4,423
38.9%
-2.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,030
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,030
9.1%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
998
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
998
8.8%
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
667
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
667
5.9%
+5.1pp
German
2021 count
407
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
407
3.6%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
299
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
299
2.6%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
204
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
204
1.8%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
202
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
202
1.8%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
169
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
169
1.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+277
+1.6pp
Australian
-155
-2.3pp
Scottish
+45
+0.2pp
Irish
+126
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+577
+5.1pp
German
+57
+0.5pp
Italian
+30
+0.2pp
Dutch
+10
+0.1pp
Filipino
-6
-0.1pp
Polish
+18
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Northam (S). 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 | |
| English | 4,619 | 40.7% | 40.0% | 4,342 | 39.1% | 39.4% | +277 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 4,423 | 38.9% | 36.3% | 4,578 | 41.2% | 39.9% | -155 | -2.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,030 | 9.1% | 9.0% | 985 | 8.9% | 8.8% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 998 | 8.8% | 8.6% | 872 | 7.8% | 8.7% | +126 | +1.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 667 | 5.9% | 7.8% | 90 | 0.8% | 3.1% | +577 | +5.1pp |
| German | 407 | 3.6% | 3.4% | 350 | 3.1% | 3.3% | +57 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 299 | 2.6% | 3.8% | 269 | 2.4% | 3.6% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 204 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 194 | 1.7% | 1.8% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 202 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 208 | 1.9% | 1.3% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 169 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 151 | 1.4% | 0.6% | +18 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).