32.2% ▲ +4.9%
- 2011: 30.7%
- 2016: 32.2%
- 2021: 32.2%
Share of people born outside Australia (birthplace-not-stated excluded).
Western Australia · State / Territory
Ancestry & Birthplace in Western Australia
Where people and their families come from — the ancestries they identify with and where they were born.
More than 32% of people in Western Australia were born overseas, one of the highest proportions among similar regions. This diverse makeup is reflected in a population where English, Australian, and Irish ancestries are most common, though many residents hail from outside Australia.
Ancestry
The ancestries people most identify with.
English ancestry is the most common at 37.6%, followed by Australian at 29.7% and Irish at 8.8%. Scottish and Italian backgrounds also feature prominently in the state's ancestral mix.
Country of birth
Australia and the largest overseas communities.
Over a third of the population was born overseas, a figure that is well above the national 27.7% and has risen since 2011. While 62% were born in Australia, the largest overseas groups come from England, New Zealand, India, and South Africa.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Western Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ancestry & Birthplace in Western Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/5/western-australia/topic/ancestry-heritage