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 Northampton (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Northampton (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Northampton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northampton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
1,395
% of total
43.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,395
43.2%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,229
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
-7.8pp
1,229
38.1%
-7.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
311
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
311
9.6%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
265
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
265
8.2%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
173
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
173
5.4%
+4.6pp
German
2021 count
135
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
135
4.2%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
77
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
77
2.4%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
60
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
60
1.9%
+0.6pp
New Zealander
2021 count
31
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
31
1.0%
+0.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
27
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
27
0.8%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-31
+0.2pp
Australian
-293
-7.8pp
Scottish
0
+0.2pp
Irish
-16
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+147
+4.6pp
German
-3
0.0pp
Italian
+11
+0.4pp
Dutch
+16
+0.6pp
New Zealander
+5
+0.2pp
Welsh
-8
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Northampton (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 | 1,395 | 43.2% | 40.0% | 1,426 | 43.0% | 39.4% | -31 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 1,229 | 38.1% | 36.3% | 1,522 | 45.9% | 39.9% | -293 | -7.8pp |
| Scottish | 311 | 9.6% | 9.0% | 311 | 9.4% | 8.8% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 265 | 8.2% | 8.6% | 281 | 8.5% | 8.7% | -16 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 173 | 5.4% | 7.8% | 26 | 0.8% | 3.1% | +147 | +4.6pp |
| German | 135 | 4.2% | 3.4% | 138 | 4.2% | 3.3% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 77 | 2.4% | 3.8% | 66 | 2.0% | 3.6% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 60 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 44 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +16 | +0.6pp |
| New Zealander | 31 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 26 | 0.8% | 1.3% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| Welsh | 27 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 35 | 1.1% | 0.7% | -8 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).