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 Paechtown were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Paechtown - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Paechtown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Barker (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Paechtown, with comparison markers for Mount Barker (DC).
English
2021 count
98
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
+7.0pp
98
24.4%
+7.0pp
Australian
2021 count
76
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
76
19.0%
+3.7pp
German
2021 count
30
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
30
7.5%
+3.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
22
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
22
5.5%
+1.8pp
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
16
4.0%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
15
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
15
3.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-910
+7.0pp
Australian
-810
+3.7pp
German
-227
+3.1pp
Scottish
-193
+1.8pp
Italian
-157
+1.0pp
Irish
-190
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Paechtown. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Barker (DC)% | Count | % | Mount Barker (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 98 | 24.4% | 23.5% | 1,008 | 17.4% | 23.0% | -910 | +7.0pp |
| Australian | 76 | 19.0% | 20.1% | 886 | 15.3% | 20.7% | -810 | +3.7pp |
| German | 30 | 7.5% | 5.9% | 257 | 4.4% | 5.9% | -227 | +3.1pp |
| Scottish | 22 | 5.5% | 5.2% | 215 | 3.7% | 4.9% | -193 | +1.8pp |
| Italian | 16 | 4.0% | 1.5% | 173 | 3.0% | 1.3% | -157 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 15 | 3.7% | 4.5% | 205 | 3.5% | 4.2% | -190 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 401 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,797 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -5,396 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).