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
21.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,395
21.7%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,229
% of total
19.1%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
1,229
19.1%
-3.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
311
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
311
4.8%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
265
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
265
4.1%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
173
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
173
2.7%
+2.3pp
German
2021 count
135
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
135
2.1%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
77
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
77
1.2%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
60
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
60
0.9%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
31
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
31
0.5%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
27
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
27
0.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-31
+0.2pp
Australian
-293
-3.9pp
Scottish
0
+0.1pp
Irish
-16
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+147
+2.3pp
German
-3
0.0pp
Italian
+11
+0.2pp
Dutch
+16
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+5
+0.1pp
Welsh
-8
-0.1pp
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 | 21.7% | 20.0% | 1,426 | 21.5% | 19.7% | -31 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 1,229 | 19.1% | 18.2% | 1,522 | 23.0% | 19.9% | -293 | -3.9pp |
| Scottish | 311 | 4.8% | 4.5% | 311 | 4.7% | 4.4% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 265 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 281 | 4.2% | 4.3% | -16 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 173 | 2.7% | 3.9% | 26 | 0.4% | 1.5% | +147 | +2.3pp |
| German | 135 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 138 | 2.1% | 1.7% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 77 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 66 | 1.0% | 1.8% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 60 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 44 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +16 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 31 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 26 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 27 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 35 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 6,421 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,627 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -206 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).