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 Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC) were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
2,604
% of total
22.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
2,604
22.1%
-0.7pp
English
2021 count
2,469
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,469
20.9%
+1.8pp
German
2021 count
560
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
560
4.7%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
546
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
546
4.6%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
509
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
509
4.3%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
137
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
137
1.2%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
108
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
108
0.9%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
97
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
97
0.8%
+0.2pp
Croatian
2021 count
39
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
39
0.3%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
30
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
30
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+97
-0.7pp
English
+366
+1.8pp
German
+59
+0.1pp
Scottish
+48
+0.1pp
Irish
+57
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+115
+1.0pp
Italian
+29
+0.2pp
Dutch
+26
+0.2pp
Croatian
+8
0.0pp
Filipino
+8
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lower Eyre Peninsula (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 | 2,604 | 22.1% | 20.3% | 2,507 | 22.8% | 21.0% | +97 | -0.7pp |
| English | 2,469 | 20.9% | 21.0% | 2,103 | 19.1% | 20.5% | +366 | +1.8pp |
| German | 560 | 4.7% | 5.3% | 501 | 4.6% | 5.4% | +59 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 546 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 498 | 4.5% | 4.5% | +48 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 509 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 452 | 4.1% | 3.9% | +57 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 137 | 1.2% | 2.2% | 22 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +115 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 108 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 79 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +29 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 97 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 71 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +26 | +0.2pp |
| Croatian | 39 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 31 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 30 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 22 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 11,801 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,007 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +794 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).