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 North Perth were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
North Perth - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for North Perth in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Vincent (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Perth, with comparison markers for Vincent (C).
English
2021 count
3,281
% of total
34.1%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
3,281
34.1%
+3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,653
% of total
27.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,653
27.6%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
1,222
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,222
12.7%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,149
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,149
11.9%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
972
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
972
10.1%
+1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
476
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
476
4.9%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
332
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
332
3.5%
+0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
262
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
262
2.7%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
235
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
235
2.4%
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
232
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
232
2.4%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+598
+3.4pp
Australian
+296
+0.6pp
Italian
+136
+0.3pp
Irish
+149
+0.5pp
Scottish
+208
+1.4pp
Chinese
+88
+0.5pp
German
+52
+0.3pp
Greek
+27
0.0pp
Dutch
+53
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
-10
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for North Perth. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Vincent (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Vincent (C)% | Count | % | Vincent (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,281 | 34.1% | 34.1% | 2,683 | 30.7% | 31.9% | +598 | +3.4pp |
| Australian | 2,653 | 27.6% | 26.4% | 2,357 | 27.0% | 25.1% | +296 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 1,222 | 12.7% | 10.3% | 1,086 | 12.4% | 10.2% | +136 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 1,149 | 11.9% | 11.9% | 1,000 | 11.4% | 11.9% | +149 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 972 | 10.1% | 9.7% | 764 | 8.7% | 8.7% | +208 | +1.4pp |
| Chinese | 476 | 4.9% | 6.1% | 388 | 4.4% | 5.4% | +88 | +0.5pp |
| German | 332 | 3.5% | 3.5% | 280 | 3.2% | 3.4% | +52 | +0.3pp |
| Greek | 262 | 2.7% | 2.2% | 235 | 2.7% | 2.2% | +27 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 235 | 2.4% | 2.0% | 182 | 2.1% | 1.7% | +53 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 232 | 2.4% | 2.2% | 242 | 2.8% | 2.0% | -10 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).