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 Campbelltown (C) (SA) were Italian, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Campbelltown (C) (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Campbelltown (C) (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Campbelltown (C) (SA), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
Italian
2021 count
12,924
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
12,924
11.8%
-1.0pp
English
2021 count
12,790
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
12,790
11.7%
-0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
11,299
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
11,299
10.3%
-0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
5,536
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
5,536
5.1%
+1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,983
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,983
2.7%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
2,950
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,950
2.7%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
2,701
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,701
2.5%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
2,621
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,621
2.4%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
1,986
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,986
1.8%
0.0pp
Korean
2021 count
689
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
689
0.6%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Italian
+52
-1.0pp
English
+663
-0.4pp
Australian
+683
-0.3pp
Chinese
+1,506
+1.1pp
Scottish
+244
0.0pp
Irish
+74
-0.2pp
Indian
+771
+0.6pp
German
+69
-0.1pp
Greek
+169
0.0pp
Korean
+88
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Campbelltown (C) (SA). 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 | |
| Italian | 12,924 | 11.8% | 3.4% | 12,872 | 12.8% | 3.4% | +52 | -1.0pp |
| English | 12,790 | 11.7% | 18.4% | 12,127 | 12.1% | 18.6% | +663 | -0.4pp |
| Australian | 11,299 | 10.3% | 15.1% | 10,616 | 10.6% | 15.5% | +683 | -0.3pp |
| Chinese | 5,536 | 5.1% | 2.0% | 4,030 | 4.0% | 1.9% | +1,506 | +1.1pp |
| Scottish | 2,983 | 2.7% | 4.1% | 2,739 | 2.7% | 4.1% | +244 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 2,950 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 2,876 | 2.9% | 4.0% | +74 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 2,701 | 2.5% | 1.5% | 1,930 | 1.9% | 1.2% | +771 | +0.6pp |
| German | 2,621 | 2.4% | 3.4% | 2,552 | 2.5% | 3.4% | +69 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 1,986 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1,817 | 1.8% | 1.4% | +169 | 0.0pp |
| Korean | 689 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 601 | 0.6% | 0.2% | +88 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 109,546 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100,310 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,236 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).