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 Lake Clifton were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lake Clifton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lake Clifton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Waroona (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lake Clifton, with comparison markers for Waroona (S).
Australian
2021 count
329
% of total
43.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
329
43.3%
+1.9pp
English
2021 count
308
% of total
40.6%
Change from 2016
-5.2pp
308
40.6%
-5.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
80
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
80
10.5%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
68
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
68
9.0%
+4.2pp
Italian
2021 count
40
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
40
5.3%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
35
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
35
4.6%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
32
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
32
4.2%
-
Dutch
2021 count
24
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
24
3.2%
+2.0pp
Maori
2021 count
13
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
13
1.7%
+1.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
11
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
11
1.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+46
+1.9pp
English
-5
-5.2pp
Scottish
+8
0.0pp
Irish
+35
+4.2pp
Italian
+17
+1.9pp
German
+4
+0.1pp
Dutch
+16
+2.0pp
Maori
+10
+1.3pp
New Zealander
+1
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lake Clifton. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waroona (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Waroona (S)% | Count | % | Waroona (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 329 | 43.3% | 37.0% | 283 | 41.4% | 39.6% | +46 | +1.9pp |
| English | 308 | 40.6% | 44.0% | 313 | 45.8% | 41.4% | -5 | -5.2pp |
| Scottish | 80 | 10.5% | 10.0% | 72 | 10.5% | 9.2% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 68 | 9.0% | 8.3% | 33 | 4.8% | 7.7% | +35 | +4.2pp |
| Italian | 40 | 5.3% | 11.0% | 23 | 3.4% | 11.0% | +17 | +1.9pp |
| German | 35 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 31 | 4.5% | 3.2% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 32 | 4.2% | 3.7% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Dutch | 24 | 3.2% | 1.5% | 8 | 1.2% | 1.5% | +16 | +2.0pp |
| Maori | 13 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +10 | +1.3pp |
| New Zealander | 11 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 10 | 1.5% | 1.3% | +1 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).