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 Flinders Ranges (DC) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Flinders Ranges (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Flinders Ranges (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Flinders Ranges (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
644
% of total
19.7%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
644
19.7%
-4.8pp
English
2021 count
642
% of total
19.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
642
19.7%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
193
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
193
5.9%
+4.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
171
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
171
5.2%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
151
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
151
4.6%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
109
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
109
3.3%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
21
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
21
0.6%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
12
0.4%
0.0pp
Swedish
2021 count
11
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
11
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-158
-4.8pp
English
+8
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+147
+4.5pp
Scottish
+18
+0.5pp
Irish
-6
-0.2pp
German
-7
-0.2pp
Dutch
-4
-0.2pp
Italian
-2
0.0pp
Swedish
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Flinders Ranges (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 | |
| Australian | 644 | 19.7% | 20.3% | 802 | 24.5% | 21.0% | -158 | -4.8pp |
| English | 642 | 19.7% | 21.0% | 634 | 19.4% | 20.5% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 193 | 5.9% | 2.2% | 46 | 1.4% | 0.6% | +147 | +4.5pp |
| Scottish | 171 | 5.2% | 4.6% | 153 | 4.7% | 4.5% | +18 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 151 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 157 | 4.8% | 3.9% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| German | 109 | 3.3% | 5.3% | 116 | 3.5% | 5.4% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 21 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 25 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 14 | 0.4% | 1.1% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Swedish | 11 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 3,261 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,271 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -10 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).