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
43.7%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
2,288
43.7%
-2.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,887
% of total
36.0%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,887
36.0%
-1.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
388
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
388
7.4%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
364
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
364
6.9%
-1.8pp
German
2021 count
322
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
322
6.1%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
264
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
264
5.0%
+4.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
101
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
101
1.9%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
94
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
94
1.8%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
69
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
69
1.3%
0.0pp
Polish
2021 count
62
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
62
1.2%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-138
-2.2pp
Australian
-99
-1.5pp
Scottish
-72
-1.3pp
Irish
-96
-1.8pp
German
-7
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+228
+4.3pp
Dutch
-1
0.0pp
Italian
-3
0.0pp
Filipino
+2
0.0pp
Polish
+14
+0.3pp
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 | 43.7% | 48.5% | 2,426 | 45.9% | 47.8% | -138 | -2.2pp |
| Australian | 1,887 | 36.0% | 37.7% | 1,986 | 37.5% | 37.5% | -99 | -1.5pp |
| Scottish | 388 | 7.4% | 10.0% | 460 | 8.7% | 9.6% | -72 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 364 | 6.9% | 8.5% | 460 | 8.7% | 8.7% | -96 | -1.8pp |
| German | 322 | 6.1% | 7.4% | 329 | 6.2% | 7.2% | -7 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 264 | 5.0% | 1.9% | 36 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +228 | +4.3pp |
| Dutch | 101 | 1.9% | 2.4% | 102 | 1.9% | 2.2% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 94 | 1.8% | 2.9% | 97 | 1.8% | 2.7% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 69 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 67 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Polish | 62 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 48 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +14 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).