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 Hackham West were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hackham West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hackham West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hackham West, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
1,638
% of total
45.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,638
45.2%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,456
% of total
40.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,456
40.2%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
296
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
296
8.2%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
285
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
285
7.9%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
244
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
244
6.7%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
165
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
165
4.6%
+4.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
80
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
80
2.2%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
63
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
63
1.7%
+0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
43
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
43
1.2%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
42
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
42
1.2%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+22
-0.3pp
Australian
+41
+0.3pp
Scottish
-46
-1.4pp
Irish
+9
+0.1pp
German
-18
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+146
+4.1pp
Dutch
+1
0.0pp
Italian
+15
+0.3pp
Polish
+2
0.0pp
Filipino
+16
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hackham West. 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 | 1,638 | 45.2% | 48.5% | 1,616 | 45.5% | 47.8% | +22 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 1,456 | 40.2% | 37.7% | 1,415 | 39.9% | 37.5% | +41 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 296 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 342 | 9.6% | 9.6% | -46 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 285 | 7.9% | 8.5% | 276 | 7.8% | 8.7% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| German | 244 | 6.7% | 7.4% | 262 | 7.4% | 7.2% | -18 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 165 | 4.6% | 1.9% | 19 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +146 | +4.1pp |
| Dutch | 80 | 2.2% | 2.4% | 79 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 63 | 1.7% | 2.9% | 48 | 1.4% | 2.7% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Polish | 43 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 41 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 42 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 26 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +16 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).