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 Subiaco (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Subiaco (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Subiaco (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Subiaco (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
English
2021 count
6,853
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
6,853
19.9%
+2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
4,753
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
4,753
13.8%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
2,236
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
2,236
6.5%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,972
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,972
5.7%
+0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,212
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,212
3.5%
-1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
793
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
793
2.3%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
639
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
639
1.9%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
393
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
393
1.1%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
359
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
359
1.0%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
293
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
293
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-25
+2.1pp
Australian
-224
+0.9pp
Irish
+27
+0.8pp
Scottish
+91
+0.8pp
Chinese
-691
-1.4pp
Italian
+88
+0.5pp
German
-34
+0.2pp
Indian
-109
-0.2pp
Dutch
-9
0.0pp
French
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Subiaco (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,853 | 19.9% | 18.5% | 6,878 | 17.8% | 18.6% | -25 | +2.1pp |
| Australian | 4,753 | 13.8% | 14.0% | 4,977 | 12.9% | 14.1% | -224 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 2,236 | 6.5% | 4.4% | 2,209 | 5.7% | 4.6% | +27 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 1,972 | 5.7% | 4.3% | 1,881 | 4.9% | 4.3% | +91 | +0.8pp |
| Chinese | 1,212 | 3.5% | 2.7% | 1,903 | 4.9% | 2.6% | -691 | -1.4pp |
| Italian | 793 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 705 | 1.8% | 2.7% | +88 | +0.5pp |
| German | 639 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 673 | 1.7% | 1.4% | -34 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 393 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 502 | 1.3% | 1.7% | -109 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 359 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 368 | 1.0% | 1.0% | -9 | 0.0pp |
| French | 293 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 288 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 34,522 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 38,674 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -4,152 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).