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 Old Noarlunga were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Old Noarlunga - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Old Noarlunga in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Old Noarlunga, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
739
% of total
48.3%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
739
48.3%
-1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
625
% of total
40.8%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
625
40.8%
+4.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
184
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
184
12.0%
+2.8pp
Irish
2021 count
136
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
136
8.9%
-1.8pp
German
2021 count
115
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
115
7.5%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
42
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
42
2.7%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
32
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
32
2.1%
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
17
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
17
1.1%
+0.9pp
Polish
2021 count
14
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
14
0.9%
+0.3pp
Welsh
2021 count
13
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
13
0.8%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+18
-1.5pp
Australian
+93
+4.1pp
Scottish
+50
+2.8pp
Irish
-19
-1.8pp
German
+3
-0.2pp
Italian
+16
+0.9pp
Dutch
-4
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+14
+0.9pp
Polish
+6
+0.3pp
Welsh
-1
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Old Noarlunga. 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 | 739 | 48.3% | 48.5% | 721 | 49.8% | 47.8% | +18 | -1.5pp |
| Australian | 625 | 40.8% | 37.7% | 532 | 36.7% | 37.5% | +93 | +4.1pp |
| Scottish | 184 | 12.0% | 10.0% | 134 | 9.2% | 9.6% | +50 | +2.8pp |
| Irish | 136 | 8.9% | 8.5% | 155 | 10.7% | 8.7% | -19 | -1.8pp |
| German | 115 | 7.5% | 7.4% | 112 | 7.7% | 7.2% | +3 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 42 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 26 | 1.8% | 2.7% | +16 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 32 | 2.1% | 2.4% | 36 | 2.5% | 2.2% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 17 | 1.1% | 1.9% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +14 | +0.9pp |
| Polish | 14 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 8 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +6 | +0.3pp |
| Welsh | 13 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 14 | 1.0% | 1.0% | -1 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).