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 Christies Beach were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Christies Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Christies Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Christies Beach, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
2,919
% of total
49.0%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
2,919
49.0%
+2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
2,060
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,060
34.6%
+1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
640
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
640
10.7%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
557
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
557
9.3%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
412
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
412
6.9%
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
187
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
187
3.1%
+2.6pp
Italian
2021 count
181
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
181
3.0%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
132
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
132
2.2%
-0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
79
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
79
1.3%
+0.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
71
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
71
1.2%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+389
+2.0pp
Australian
+293
+1.8pp
Scottish
+129
+1.2pp
Irish
+57
0.0pp
German
+103
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+161
+2.6pp
Italian
+50
+0.6pp
Dutch
+8
-0.1pp
Welsh
+34
+0.5pp
Filipino
+32
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Christies 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 | 2,919 | 49.0% | 48.5% | 2,530 | 47.0% | 47.8% | +389 | +2.0pp |
| Australian | 2,060 | 34.6% | 37.7% | 1,767 | 32.8% | 37.5% | +293 | +1.8pp |
| Scottish | 640 | 10.7% | 10.0% | 511 | 9.5% | 9.6% | +129 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 557 | 9.3% | 8.5% | 500 | 9.3% | 8.7% | +57 | 0.0pp |
| German | 412 | 6.9% | 7.4% | 309 | 5.7% | 7.2% | +103 | +1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 187 | 3.1% | 1.9% | 26 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +161 | +2.6pp |
| Italian | 181 | 3.0% | 2.9% | 131 | 2.4% | 2.7% | +50 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 132 | 2.2% | 2.4% | 124 | 2.3% | 2.2% | +8 | -0.1pp |
| Welsh | 79 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 45 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +34 | +0.5pp |
| Filipino | 71 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 39 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +32 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).