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 Mount Gambier (C) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Gambier (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Gambier (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Gambier (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
11,197
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
11,197
20.8%
-0.1pp
English
2021 count
11,014
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
11,014
20.5%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,744
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,744
5.1%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
2,317
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,317
4.3%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
2,138
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,138
4.0%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
918
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
918
1.7%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
746
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
746
1.4%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
712
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
712
1.3%
0.0pp
Karen
2021 count
239
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
239
0.4%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
224
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
224
0.4%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+243
-0.1pp
English
+164
-0.2pp
Scottish
-30
-0.2pp
Irish
-252
-0.6pp
German
-1
-0.1pp
Italian
+80
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+662
+1.2pp
Dutch
+20
0.0pp
Karen
-42
-0.1pp
Polish
+20
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Gambier (C). 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 | 11,197 | 20.8% | 20.3% | 10,954 | 20.9% | 21.0% | +243 | -0.1pp |
| English | 11,014 | 20.5% | 21.0% | 10,850 | 20.7% | 20.5% | +164 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 2,744 | 5.1% | 4.6% | 2,774 | 5.3% | 4.5% | -30 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 2,317 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 2,569 | 4.9% | 3.9% | -252 | -0.6pp |
| German | 2,138 | 4.0% | 5.3% | 2,139 | 4.1% | 5.4% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 918 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 838 | 1.6% | 1.1% | +80 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 746 | 1.4% | 2.2% | 84 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +662 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 712 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 692 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +20 | 0.0pp |
| Karen | 239 | 0.4% | 0.0% | 281 | 0.5% | 0.0% | -42 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 224 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 204 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +20 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 53,714 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 52,509 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,205 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).