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 Gawler (T) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gawler (T) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gawler (T) 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 Gawler (T), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
English
2021 count
12,341
% of total
24.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
12,341
24.7%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
9,626
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
9,626
19.3%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
2,350
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,350
4.7%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,246
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,246
4.5%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
2,202
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,202
4.4%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
973
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
973
1.9%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
619
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
619
1.2%
+1.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
497
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
497
1.0%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
221
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
221
0.4%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
221
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
221
0.4%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,056
+0.2pp
Australian
+944
+0.5pp
German
+107
-0.2pp
Scottish
+93
-0.2pp
Irish
+41
-0.3pp
Italian
+67
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+570
+1.1pp
Dutch
+81
+0.1pp
Greek
0
-0.1pp
Polish
+32
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gawler (T). 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 | |
| English | 12,341 | 24.7% | 18.4% | 11,285 | 24.5% | 18.6% | +1,056 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 9,626 | 19.3% | 15.1% | 8,682 | 18.8% | 15.5% | +944 | +0.5pp |
| German | 2,350 | 4.7% | 3.4% | 2,243 | 4.9% | 3.4% | +107 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 2,246 | 4.5% | 4.1% | 2,153 | 4.7% | 4.1% | +93 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 2,202 | 4.4% | 3.8% | 2,161 | 4.7% | 4.0% | +41 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 973 | 1.9% | 3.4% | 906 | 2.0% | 3.4% | +67 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 619 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 49 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +570 | +1.1pp |
| Dutch | 497 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 416 | 0.9% | 0.8% | +81 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 221 | 0.4% | 1.4% | 221 | 0.5% | 1.4% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 221 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 189 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +32 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 49,975 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 46,070 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,905 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).