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 Blackwood (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Blackwood (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Blackwood (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Blackwood (SA), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
2,225
% of total
52.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
2,225
52.2%
+1.9pp
Australian
2021 count
1,512
% of total
35.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,512
35.4%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
528
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
528
12.4%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
481
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
481
11.3%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
391
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
391
9.2%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
125
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
125
2.9%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
85
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
85
2.0%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
82
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
82
1.9%
0.0pp
Polish
2021 count
69
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
69
1.6%
+0.4pp
French
2021 count
38
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
38
0.9%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+120
+1.9pp
Australian
-7
-0.9pp
Scottish
-2
-0.3pp
Irish
+14
+0.1pp
German
+25
+0.4pp
Italian
+10
+0.1pp
Chinese
+25
+0.6pp
Dutch
+3
0.0pp
Polish
+18
+0.4pp
French
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Blackwood (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,225 | 52.2% | 42.1% | 2,105 | 50.3% | 41.5% | +120 | +1.9pp |
| Australian | 1,512 | 35.4% | 33.7% | 1,519 | 36.3% | 33.3% | -7 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 528 | 12.4% | 10.6% | 530 | 12.7% | 10.2% | -2 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 481 | 11.3% | 9.5% | 467 | 11.2% | 10.0% | +14 | +0.1pp |
| German | 391 | 9.2% | 8.3% | 366 | 8.8% | 8.1% | +25 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 125 | 2.9% | 4.5% | 115 | 2.8% | 4.0% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 85 | 2.0% | 4.3% | 60 | 1.4% | 4.0% | +25 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 82 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 79 | 1.9% | 1.7% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Polish | 69 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 51 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +18 | +0.4pp |
| French | 38 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 35 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +3 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).