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 Berri and Barmera (DC) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Berri and Barmera (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Berri and Barmera (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Berri and Barmera (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
4,190
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,190
20.0%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
4,132
% of total
19.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
4,132
19.7%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
1,243
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,243
5.9%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
723
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
723
3.4%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
604
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
604
2.9%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
498
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
498
2.4%
+2.0pp
Greek
2021 count
498
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
498
2.4%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
300
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
300
1.4%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
153
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
153
0.7%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
150
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
150
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+239
+1.2pp
Australian
-184
-0.8pp
German
-32
-0.2pp
Scottish
-30
-0.2pp
Irish
-30
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+413
+2.0pp
Greek
-43
-0.2pp
Italian
+27
+0.1pp
Dutch
0
0.0pp
Indian
+50
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Berri and Barmera (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 | 4,190 | 20.0% | 21.0% | 3,951 | 18.8% | 20.5% | +239 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 4,132 | 19.7% | 20.3% | 4,316 | 20.5% | 21.0% | -184 | -0.8pp |
| German | 1,243 | 5.9% | 5.3% | 1,275 | 6.1% | 5.4% | -32 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 723 | 3.4% | 4.6% | 753 | 3.6% | 4.5% | -30 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 604 | 2.9% | 3.8% | 634 | 3.0% | 3.9% | -30 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 498 | 2.4% | 2.2% | 85 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +413 | +2.0pp |
| Greek | 498 | 2.4% | 0.4% | 541 | 2.6% | 0.4% | -43 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 300 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 273 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +27 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 153 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 153 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 150 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 100 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +50 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 20,961 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,066 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -105 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).