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 Loxton Waikerie (DC) were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Loxton Waikerie (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Loxton Waikerie (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Loxton Waikerie (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
4,721
% of total
20.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
4,721
20.2%
-0.8pp
English
2021 count
4,560
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
4,560
19.6%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
2,352
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,352
10.1%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
855
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
855
3.7%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
648
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
648
2.8%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
300
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
300
1.3%
+1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
285
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
285
1.2%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
147
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
147
0.6%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
121
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
121
0.5%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
92
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
92
0.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-102
-0.8pp
English
+208
+0.6pp
German
+21
-0.1pp
Scottish
+47
+0.2pp
Irish
-61
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+268
+1.2pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Greek
-19
-0.1pp
Dutch
-4
0.0pp
Indian
-14
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Loxton Waikerie (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 | 4,721 | 20.2% | 20.3% | 4,823 | 21.0% | 21.0% | -102 | -0.8pp |
| English | 4,560 | 19.6% | 21.0% | 4,352 | 19.0% | 20.5% | +208 | +0.6pp |
| German | 2,352 | 10.1% | 5.3% | 2,331 | 10.2% | 5.4% | +21 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 855 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 808 | 3.5% | 4.5% | +47 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 648 | 2.8% | 3.8% | 709 | 3.1% | 3.9% | -61 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 300 | 1.3% | 2.2% | 32 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +268 | +1.2pp |
| Italian | 285 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 282 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 147 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 166 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -19 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 121 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 125 | 0.5% | 0.8% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 92 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 106 | 0.5% | 0.2% | -14 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 23,318 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 22,952 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +366 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).