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 Grant (DC) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Grant (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Grant (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Grant (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
3,466
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
3,466
20.1%
-1.5pp
English
2021 count
3,192
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,192
18.5%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
936
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
936
5.4%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
709
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
709
4.1%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
670
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
670
3.9%
-0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
203
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
203
1.2%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
178
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
178
1.0%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
144
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
144
0.8%
+0.7pp
New Zealander
2021 count
54
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
54
0.3%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
50
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
50
0.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-82
-1.5pp
English
+134
-0.1pp
Scottish
+72
+0.1pp
Irish
-6
-0.3pp
German
-31
-0.4pp
Dutch
-15
-0.1pp
Italian
+3
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+130
+0.7pp
New Zealander
+11
0.0pp
Filipino
+30
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Grant (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 | 3,466 | 20.1% | 20.3% | 3,548 | 21.6% | 21.0% | -82 | -1.5pp |
| English | 3,192 | 18.5% | 21.0% | 3,058 | 18.6% | 20.5% | +134 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 936 | 5.4% | 4.6% | 864 | 5.3% | 4.5% | +72 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 709 | 4.1% | 3.8% | 715 | 4.4% | 3.9% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| German | 670 | 3.9% | 5.3% | 701 | 4.3% | 5.4% | -31 | -0.4pp |
| Dutch | 203 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 218 | 1.3% | 0.8% | -15 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 178 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 175 | 1.1% | 1.1% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 144 | 0.8% | 2.2% | 14 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +130 | +0.7pp |
| New Zealander | 54 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 43 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 50 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 20 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 17,259 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,407 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +852 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).