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 Goyder (DC) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Goyder (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Goyder (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Goyder (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
1,674
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,674
20.7%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,650
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,650
20.4%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
712
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
712
8.8%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
374
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
374
4.6%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
352
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
352
4.3%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
90
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
90
1.1%
+1.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
63
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
63
0.8%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
33
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
33
0.4%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
25
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
25
0.3%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
24
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
24
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-3
+0.4pp
Australian
-44
-0.1pp
German
-9
+0.1pp
Irish
-2
0.0pp
Scottish
+22
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+86
+1.1pp
Dutch
+17
+0.2pp
Italian
-10
-0.1pp
Polish
-2
0.0pp
Filipino
-1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Goyder (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 | 1,674 | 20.7% | 21.0% | 1,677 | 20.3% | 20.5% | -3 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 1,650 | 20.4% | 20.3% | 1,694 | 20.5% | 21.0% | -44 | -0.1pp |
| German | 712 | 8.8% | 5.3% | 721 | 8.7% | 5.4% | -9 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 374 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 376 | 4.6% | 3.9% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 352 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 330 | 4.0% | 4.5% | +22 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 90 | 1.1% | 2.2% | 4 | 0.0% | 0.6% | +86 | +1.1pp |
| Dutch | 63 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 46 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 33 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 43 | 0.5% | 1.1% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 25 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 24 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 25 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 8,102 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,257 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -155 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).