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 Happy Valley (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Happy Valley (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Happy Valley (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Happy Valley (SA), with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
5,598
% of total
24.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
5,598
24.5%
+1.9pp
Australian
2021 count
4,511
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
4,511
19.8%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,212
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,212
5.3%
-1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,027
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,027
4.5%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
1,007
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,007
4.4%
+1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
303
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
303
1.3%
-
Dutch
2021 count
294
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
294
1.3%
-
Chinese
2021 count
137
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
137
0.6%
-
Greek
2021 count
132
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
132
0.6%
-
Welsh
2021 count
125
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
125
0.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,570
+1.9pp
Australian
+4,484
-2.0pp
Scottish
+1,204
-1.2pp
Irish
+1,022
+0.5pp
German
+1,003
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Happy Valley (SA). 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 | 5,598 | 24.5% | 24.2% | 28 | 22.6% | 23.9% | +5,570 | +1.9pp |
| Australian | 4,511 | 19.8% | 18.8% | 27 | 21.8% | 18.8% | +4,484 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,212 | 5.3% | 5.0% | 8 | 6.5% | 4.8% | +1,204 | -1.2pp |
| Irish | 1,027 | 4.5% | 4.2% | 5 | 4.0% | 4.3% | +1,022 | +0.5pp |
| German | 1,007 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 4 | 3.2% | 3.6% | +1,003 | +1.2pp |
| Italian | 303 | 1.3% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Dutch | 294 | 1.3% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Chinese | 137 | 0.6% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Greek | 132 | 0.6% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Welsh | 125 | 0.5% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Total | 22,813 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 124 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +22,689 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).