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 Kangaroo Island (DC) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kangaroo Island (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kangaroo Island (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kangaroo Island (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
2,181
% of total
44.6%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
2,181
44.6%
+2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,983
% of total
40.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,983
40.5%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
528
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
528
10.8%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
437
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
437
8.9%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
435
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
435
8.9%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
102
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
102
2.1%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
92
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
92
1.9%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
81
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
81
1.7%
+1.4pp
Maori
2021 count
54
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
54
1.1%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
42
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
42
0.9%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+203
+2.5pp
Australian
+13
-1.4pp
Scottish
+43
+0.5pp
Irish
+30
+0.2pp
German
+35
+0.4pp
Dutch
+10
+0.1pp
Italian
+13
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+66
+1.4pp
Maori
-5
-0.2pp
Filipino
+10
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kangaroo Island (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 | 2,181 | 44.6% | 42.0% | 1,978 | 42.1% | 41.1% | +203 | +2.5pp |
| Australian | 1,983 | 40.5% | 40.5% | 1,970 | 41.9% | 42.1% | +13 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 528 | 10.8% | 9.2% | 485 | 10.3% | 9.0% | +43 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 437 | 8.9% | 7.7% | 407 | 8.7% | 7.8% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| German | 435 | 8.9% | 10.7% | 400 | 8.5% | 10.9% | +35 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 102 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 92 | 2.0% | 1.6% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 92 | 1.9% | 2.2% | 79 | 1.7% | 2.1% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 81 | 1.7% | 4.3% | 15 | 0.3% | 1.2% | +66 | +1.4pp |
| Maori | 54 | 1.1% | 0.3% | 59 | 1.3% | 0.3% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 42 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 32 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +10 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).