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 Palmer (SA) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Palmer (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Palmer (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid Murray (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Palmer (SA), with comparison markers for Mid Murray (DC).
Australian
2021 count
101
% of total
23.6%
Change from 2016
+10.5pp
101
23.6%
+10.5pp
English
2021 count
89
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
89
20.8%
+7.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
39
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
39
9.1%
+6.6pp
German
2021 count
38
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
38
8.9%
+6.6pp
Irish
2021 count
21
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
21
4.9%
+2.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-4,344
+10.5pp
English
-4,557
+7.1pp
Scottish
-817
+6.6pp
German
-734
+6.6pp
Irish
-772
+2.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Palmer (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid Murray (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid Murray (DC)% | Count | % | Mid Murray (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 101 | 23.6% | 19.5% | 4,445 | 13.1% | 19.8% | -4,344 | +10.5pp |
| English | 89 | 20.8% | 21.0% | 4,646 | 13.7% | 20.3% | -4,557 | +7.1pp |
| Scottish | 39 | 9.1% | 4.2% | 856 | 2.5% | 4.1% | -817 | +6.6pp |
| German | 38 | 8.9% | 7.9% | 772 | 2.3% | 8.9% | -734 | +6.6pp |
| Irish | 21 | 4.9% | 3.3% | 793 | 2.3% | 3.3% | -772 | +2.6pp |
| Total | 428 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 33,863 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -33,435 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).