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 Barunga West (DC) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Barunga West (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Barunga West (DC) 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 Barunga West (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
1,250
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,250
24.0%
+0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
1,180
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,180
22.7%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
254
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
254
4.9%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
199
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
199
3.8%
+0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
187
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
187
3.6%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
55
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
55
1.1%
-
Dutch
2021 count
27
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
27
0.5%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
21
0.4%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
18
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
18
0.3%
0.0pp
Welsh
2021 count
12
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
12
0.2%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+77
+0.9pp
Australian
+15
-0.3pp
German
+32
+0.5pp
Irish
+41
+0.7pp
Scottish
+1
-0.1pp
Dutch
-7
-0.2pp
Italian
-3
-0.1pp
Polish
+3
0.0pp
Welsh
+3
0.0pp
French
+4
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Barunga West (DC). 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 | |
| English | 1,250 | 24.0% | 21.0% | 1,173 | 23.1% | 20.5% | +77 | +0.9pp |
| Australian | 1,180 | 22.7% | 20.3% | 1,165 | 23.0% | 21.0% | +15 | -0.3pp |
| German | 254 | 4.9% | 5.3% | 222 | 4.4% | 5.4% | +32 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 199 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 158 | 3.1% | 3.9% | +41 | +0.7pp |
| Scottish | 187 | 3.6% | 4.6% | 186 | 3.7% | 4.5% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 55 | 1.1% | 2.2% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Dutch | 27 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 34 | 0.7% | 0.8% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 21 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 24 | 0.5% | 1.1% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 18 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Welsh | 12 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 9 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 5,200 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,075 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +125 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).