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 Adelaide Hills (DC) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Adelaide Hills (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Adelaide Hills (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide Hills (DC), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
English
2021 count
19,214
% of total
23.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
19,214
23.5%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
15,537
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15,537
19.0%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
4,593
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,593
5.6%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
4,523
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
4,523
5.5%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
3,811
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,811
4.7%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
1,860
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,860
2.3%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
972
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
972
1.2%
+0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
537
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
537
0.7%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
528
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
528
0.6%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
437
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
437
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,236
+0.4pp
Australian
+733
-0.1pp
German
+272
0.0pp
Scottish
+592
+0.4pp
Irish
+258
+0.1pp
Italian
+170
+0.1pp
Dutch
+95
+0.1pp
Polish
+72
+0.1pp
Chinese
+129
+0.1pp
Welsh
+33
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Adelaide Hills (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | pp | |
| English | 19,214 | 23.5% | 18.4% | 17,978 | 23.1% | 18.6% | +1,236 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 15,537 | 19.0% | 15.1% | 14,804 | 19.1% | 15.5% | +733 | -0.1pp |
| German | 4,593 | 5.6% | 3.4% | 4,321 | 5.6% | 3.4% | +272 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 4,523 | 5.5% | 4.1% | 3,931 | 5.1% | 4.1% | +592 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 3,811 | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3,553 | 4.6% | 4.0% | +258 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 1,860 | 2.3% | 3.4% | 1,690 | 2.2% | 3.4% | +170 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 972 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 877 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +95 | +0.1pp |
| Polish | 537 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 465 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +72 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 528 | 0.6% | 2.0% | 399 | 0.5% | 1.9% | +129 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 437 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 404 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +33 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 81,745 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 77,677 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,068 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).