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 Christie Downs were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Christie Downs - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Christie Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Christie Downs, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
2,288
% of total
21.9%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
2,288
21.9%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,887
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,887
18.0%
-1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
388
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
388
3.7%
-1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
364
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
364
3.5%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
322
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
322
3.1%
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
264
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
264
2.5%
-
Dutch
2021 count
101
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
101
1.0%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
94
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
94
0.9%
-0.8pp
Filipino
2021 count
69
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
69
0.7%
+0.4pp
Polish
2021 count
62
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
62
0.6%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,621
+1.6pp
Australian
+1,262
-1.1pp
Scottish
+218
-1.5pp
Irish
+228
-0.6pp
German
+191
-0.9pp
Dutch
+74
+0.2pp
Italian
+37
-0.8pp
Filipino
+60
+0.4pp
Polish
+36
-0.2pp
Welsh
+39
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Christie Downs. 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 | 2,288 | 21.9% | 24.2% | 667 | 20.3% | 23.9% | +1,621 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 1,887 | 18.0% | 18.8% | 625 | 19.1% | 18.8% | +1,262 | -1.1pp |
| Scottish | 388 | 3.7% | 5.0% | 170 | 5.2% | 4.8% | +218 | -1.5pp |
| Irish | 364 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 136 | 4.1% | 4.3% | +228 | -0.6pp |
| German | 322 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 131 | 4.0% | 3.6% | +191 | -0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 264 | 2.5% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Dutch | 101 | 1.0% | 1.2% | 27 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +74 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 94 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 57 | 1.7% | 1.3% | +37 | -0.8pp |
| Filipino | 69 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 9 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +60 | +0.4pp |
| Polish | 62 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 26 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +36 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 10,460 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,279 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,181 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).