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 Darlington (SA) (part) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Darlington (SA) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Darlington (SA) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Darlington (SA) (part), with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
Australian
2021 count
405
% of total
31.8%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
405
31.8%
+2.7pp
English
2021 count
402
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
402
31.5%
-1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
97
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
97
7.6%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
91
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
91
7.1%
-1.5pp
German
2021 count
86
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
86
6.7%
-1.0pp
Indian
2021 count
74
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
74
5.8%
+2.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
63
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
63
4.9%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
59
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
59
4.6%
+0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
40
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
40
3.1%
-0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
38
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
38
3.0%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+46
+2.7pp
English
0
-1.1pp
Scottish
+8
+0.4pp
Irish
-15
-1.5pp
German
-9
-1.0pp
Indian
+30
+2.2pp
Chinese
+10
+0.6pp
Italian
+12
+0.8pp
Greek
-2
-0.3pp
Polish
+7
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Darlington (SA) (part). 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 | |
| Australian | 405 | 31.8% | 37.7% | 359 | 29.1% | 37.5% | +46 | +2.7pp |
| English | 402 | 31.5% | 48.5% | 402 | 32.6% | 47.8% | 0 | -1.1pp |
| Scottish | 97 | 7.6% | 10.0% | 89 | 7.2% | 9.6% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 91 | 7.1% | 8.5% | 106 | 8.6% | 8.7% | -15 | -1.5pp |
| German | 86 | 6.7% | 7.4% | 95 | 7.7% | 7.2% | -9 | -1.0pp |
| Indian | 74 | 5.8% | 0.9% | 44 | 3.6% | 0.8% | +30 | +2.2pp |
| Chinese | 63 | 4.9% | 1.0% | 53 | 4.3% | 1.0% | +10 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 59 | 4.6% | 2.9% | 47 | 3.8% | 2.7% | +12 | +0.8pp |
| Greek | 40 | 3.1% | 1.0% | 42 | 3.4% | 1.0% | -2 | -0.3pp |
| Polish | 38 | 3.0% | 1.2% | 31 | 2.5% | 1.1% | +7 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).