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 Aberfoyle Park were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Aberfoyle Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Aberfoyle Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Aberfoyle Park, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
5,343
% of total
23.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
5,343
23.8%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
4,151
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
4,151
18.5%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,147
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,147
5.1%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
991
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
991
4.4%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
935
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
935
4.2%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
355
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
355
1.6%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
272
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
272
1.2%
+0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
235
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
235
1.0%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
193
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
193
0.9%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
174
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
174
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+146
+0.2pp
Australian
+131
+0.3pp
Scottish
+113
+0.4pp
German
+93
+0.3pp
Irish
-46
-0.3pp
Italian
+33
+0.1pp
Dutch
+30
+0.1pp
Polish
+18
0.0pp
Chinese
+18
+0.1pp
Indian
+14
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Aberfoyle Park. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,343 | 23.8% | 24.2% | 5,197 | 23.6% | 23.9% | +146 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 4,151 | 18.5% | 18.8% | 4,020 | 18.2% | 18.8% | +131 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,147 | 5.1% | 5.0% | 1,034 | 4.7% | 4.8% | +113 | +0.4pp |
| German | 991 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 898 | 4.1% | 3.6% | +93 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 935 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 981 | 4.5% | 4.3% | -46 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 355 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 322 | 1.5% | 1.3% | +33 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 272 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 242 | 1.1% | 1.1% | +30 | +0.1pp |
| Polish | 235 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 217 | 1.0% | 0.6% | +18 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 193 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 175 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 174 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 160 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +14 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 22,455 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 22,044 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +411 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).