Identifying with a national ancestry or ethnic origin: a comparative study of Australia, Canada and the U.S.

Sharon M. Lee, University of Victoria
Barry Edmonston, University of Victoria

In ethnically diverse societies such as Australia, Canada, and the United States, ethnic population trends are understandably of great interest. Recently, there is a trend towards identifying with a national ethnicity or ancestry, such as “Australian” in Australia, “Canadian” in Canada, and “American” in the United States. The 1996 Canadian census showed that 29 percent of the population reported “Canadian” ethnic origin, a proportion that increased to 37 percent in the 2001 census. In Australia, 35 percent of the population reported their ancestry as “Australian” in the 2001 census. We examine microdata from three censuses -- the 2001 Australian and Canadian censuses and the 2000 U.S. census -- to address these questions. What factors are associated with identification with a national ancestry or ethnicity? Are there similarities or differences across the three societies? What are the implications of our findings for future trends and thinking about ethnicity in these societies?