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 Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC) were Australian Aboriginal, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,023
% of total
43.4%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
2,023
43.4%
+5.2pp
English
2021 count
87
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
87
1.9%
-0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
85
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
85
1.8%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
34
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
34
0.7%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
31
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
31
0.7%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
20
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
20
0.4%
-0.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
10
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.2%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+290
+5.2pp
English
-42
-0.9pp
Australian
-50
-1.2pp
Scottish
+2
0.0pp
Irish
-14
-0.3pp
German
-5
-0.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
-1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,023 | 43.4% | 2.2% | 1,733 | 38.2% | 0.6% | +290 | +5.2pp |
| English | 87 | 1.9% | 21.0% | 129 | 2.8% | 20.5% | -42 | -0.9pp |
| Australian | 85 | 1.8% | 20.3% | 135 | 3.0% | 21.0% | -50 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 34 | 0.7% | 4.6% | 32 | 0.7% | 4.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 31 | 0.7% | 3.8% | 45 | 1.0% | 3.9% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| German | 20 | 0.4% | 5.3% | 25 | 0.6% | 5.4% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 10 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.0% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 4,658 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,536 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +122 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).