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 were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Northam - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Northam in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northam (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northam, with comparison markers for Northam (S).
English
2021 count
2,648
% of total
39.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
2,648
39.6%
+1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
2,611
% of total
39.1%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
2,611
39.1%
-4.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
562
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
562
8.4%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
543
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
543
8.1%
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
523
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
523
7.8%
+6.6pp
German
2021 count
252
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
252
3.8%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
175
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
175
2.6%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
150
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
150
2.2%
0.0pp
Polish
2021 count
133
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
133
2.0%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
132
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
132
2.0%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+138
+1.3pp
Australian
-261
-4.8pp
Scottish
+32
+0.3pp
Irish
+51
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+442
+6.6pp
German
+37
+0.5pp
Italian
+23
+0.3pp
Filipino
+7
0.0pp
Polish
+17
+0.2pp
Dutch
+24
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Northam. 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 | 2,648 | 39.6% | 40.7% | 2,510 | 38.3% | 39.1% | +138 | +1.3pp |
| Australian | 2,611 | 39.1% | 38.9% | 2,872 | 43.9% | 41.2% | -261 | -4.8pp |
| Scottish | 562 | 8.4% | 9.1% | 530 | 8.1% | 8.9% | +32 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 543 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 492 | 7.5% | 7.8% | +51 | +0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 523 | 7.8% | 5.9% | 81 | 1.2% | 0.8% | +442 | +6.6pp |
| German | 252 | 3.8% | 3.6% | 215 | 3.3% | 3.1% | +37 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 175 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 152 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +23 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 150 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 143 | 2.2% | 1.9% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Polish | 133 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 116 | 1.8% | 1.4% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 132 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 108 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +24 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).