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 Aldinga Beach were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Aldinga Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Aldinga Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Aldinga Beach, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
5,547
% of total
26.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
5,547
26.0%
+1.4pp
Australian
2021 count
4,030
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
4,030
18.9%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,151
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,151
5.4%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
914
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
914
4.3%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
732
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
732
3.4%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
311
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
311
1.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
268
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
268
1.3%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
252
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
252
1.2%
+1.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
91
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
91
0.4%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
85
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
85
0.4%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+357
+1.4pp
Australian
-170
-1.0pp
Scottish
+117
+0.5pp
Irish
+66
+0.3pp
German
+34
+0.1pp
Italian
+27
+0.2pp
Dutch
+81
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+226
+1.1pp
Welsh
-11
-0.1pp
Greek
-3
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Aldinga Beach. 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 | 5,547 | 26.0% | 24.2% | 5,190 | 24.6% | 23.9% | +357 | +1.4pp |
| Australian | 4,030 | 18.9% | 18.8% | 4,200 | 19.9% | 18.8% | -170 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,151 | 5.4% | 5.0% | 1,034 | 4.9% | 4.8% | +117 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 914 | 4.3% | 4.2% | 848 | 4.0% | 4.3% | +66 | +0.3pp |
| German | 732 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 698 | 3.3% | 3.6% | +34 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 311 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 284 | 1.3% | 1.3% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 268 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 187 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +81 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 252 | 1.2% | 0.9% | 26 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +226 | +1.1pp |
| Welsh | 91 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 102 | 0.5% | 0.5% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 85 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 88 | 0.4% | 0.5% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 21,303 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,069 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +234 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).