The United Kingdom Census, in contrast, measures language use only for Welsh and Scottish Gaelic and religion only for Northern Ireland. All are the basis for official policies aimed at equitable distribution of power and resources. The Indian Census, based on the most multicultural major society in the world, measures language, religion and caste. This article presents some of these measures as well as discussing their difficulties and limitations.Īt various times different countries seek, through population censuses, to measure ethnic and cultural diversity in terms of birthplace, language, religion and the like. However, they are far from straightforward or uncontroversial.
Various measures can be used to indicate the extent and characteristics of Australia's ethnic and cultural diversity. This article has been contributed by Dr James Jupp, Director, Centre for Immigration and Multicultural Studies, Australian National University.Īs 1995 has been designated as the UN International Year of Tolerance it is appropriate to reflect on the multiculturalism of Australia and the fact that its ethnic and cultural diversity has evolved largely without the major problems encountered in some other countries. ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN AUSTRALIA
