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 Glenelg (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Glenelg (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Glenelg (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Glenelg (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
8,587
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
8,587
21.3%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
8,503
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
8,503
21.1%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,481
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,481
6.2%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
2,233
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,233
5.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
1,031
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,031
2.6%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
550
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
550
1.4%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
417
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
417
1.0%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
277
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
277
0.7%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
149
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
149
0.4%
+0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
140
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
140
0.3%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+512
+0.6pp
Australian
+14
-0.6pp
Scottish
+177
+0.3pp
Irish
+110
+0.1pp
German
-14
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+457
+1.2pp
Dutch
+56
+0.1pp
Italian
+8
0.0pp
Filipino
+30
+0.1pp
Maltese
+26
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Glenelg (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,587 | 21.3% | 20.3% | 8,075 | 20.7% | 20.0% | +512 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 8,503 | 21.1% | 19.6% | 8,489 | 21.7% | 20.0% | +14 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 2,481 | 6.2% | 5.8% | 2,304 | 5.9% | 5.7% | +177 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 2,233 | 5.5% | 6.4% | 2,123 | 5.4% | 6.5% | +110 | +0.1pp |
| German | 1,031 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1,045 | 2.7% | 2.3% | -14 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 550 | 1.4% | 1.0% | 93 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +457 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 417 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 361 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +56 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 277 | 0.7% | 1.9% | 269 | 0.7% | 1.8% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 149 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 119 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +30 | +0.1pp |
| Maltese | 140 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 114 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +26 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 40,293 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 39,070 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,223 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).