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 No usual address (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
No usual address (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for No usual address (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against South Australia and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (SA), with comparison markers for South Australia.
English
2021 count
1,109
% of total
32.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,109
32.8%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
937
% of total
27.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
937
27.7%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
247
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
247
7.3%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
244
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
244
7.2%
+5.7pp
Irish
2021 count
223
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
223
6.6%
-0.9pp
German
2021 count
198
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
198
5.9%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
114
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
114
3.4%
+1.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
59
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
59
1.7%
-0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
49
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
49
1.5%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
32
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
32
0.9%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+170
0.0pp
Australian
+92
-1.8pp
Scottish
+52
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+200
+5.7pp
Irish
+8
-0.9pp
German
+20
-0.3pp
Italian
+52
+1.2pp
Chinese
-10
-0.7pp
Dutch
+3
-0.1pp
Polish
+13
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for No usual address (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with South Australia.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | South Australia% | Count | % | South Australia% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,109 | 32.8% | 38.0% | 939 | 32.8% | 38.1% | +170 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 937 | 27.7% | 32.5% | 845 | 29.5% | 33.4% | +92 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 247 | 7.3% | 8.4% | 195 | 6.8% | 8.4% | +52 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 244 | 7.2% | 2.2% | 44 | 1.5% | 0.5% | +200 | +5.7pp |
| Irish | 223 | 6.6% | 7.6% | 215 | 7.5% | 8.0% | +8 | -0.9pp |
| German | 198 | 5.9% | 7.6% | 178 | 6.2% | 7.8% | +20 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 114 | 3.4% | 5.8% | 62 | 2.2% | 5.7% | +52 | +1.2pp |
| Chinese | 59 | 1.7% | 3.3% | 69 | 2.4% | 3.1% | -10 | -0.7pp |
| Dutch | 49 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 46 | 1.6% | 1.6% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 32 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 19 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +13 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).