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 O'Sullivan Beach were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
O'Sullivan Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for O'Sullivan Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for O'Sullivan Beach, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
911
% of total
49.4%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
911
49.4%
+2.6pp
Australian
2021 count
735
% of total
39.9%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
735
39.9%
-2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
175
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
175
9.5%
+1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
170
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
170
9.2%
+1.0pp
German
2021 count
157
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
157
8.5%
+1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
74
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
74
4.0%
+3.5pp
Italian
2021 count
52
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
52
2.8%
+0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
37
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
37
2.0%
-0.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
19
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
19
1.0%
+0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
18
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
18
1.0%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+32
+2.6pp
Australian
-56
-2.2pp
Scottish
+17
+1.1pp
Irish
+15
+1.0pp
German
+30
+1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+64
+3.5pp
Italian
+12
+0.7pp
Dutch
-11
-0.6pp
Welsh
+4
+0.2pp
Greek
+9
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for O'Sullivan 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 | 911 | 49.4% | 48.5% | 879 | 46.8% | 47.8% | +32 | +2.6pp |
| Australian | 735 | 39.9% | 37.7% | 791 | 42.1% | 37.5% | -56 | -2.2pp |
| Scottish | 175 | 9.5% | 10.0% | 158 | 8.4% | 9.6% | +17 | +1.1pp |
| Irish | 170 | 9.2% | 8.5% | 155 | 8.2% | 8.7% | +15 | +1.0pp |
| German | 157 | 8.5% | 7.4% | 127 | 6.8% | 7.2% | +30 | +1.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 74 | 4.0% | 1.9% | 10 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +64 | +3.5pp |
| Italian | 52 | 2.8% | 2.9% | 40 | 2.1% | 2.7% | +12 | +0.7pp |
| Dutch | 37 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 48 | 2.6% | 2.2% | -11 | -0.6pp |
| Welsh | 19 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 15 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Greek | 18 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 9 | 0.5% | 1.0% | +9 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).