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 Onkaparinga Hills were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Onkaparinga Hills - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Onkaparinga Hills in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Onkaparinga Hills, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
1,288
% of total
49.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,288
49.3%
-1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,107
% of total
42.4%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
1,107
42.4%
+4.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
248
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
248
9.5%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
210
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
210
8.0%
-1.6pp
German
2021 count
192
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
192
7.4%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
81
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
81
3.1%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
78
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
78
3.0%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
32
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
32
1.2%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
22
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
22
0.8%
+0.5pp
Polish
2021 count
21
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
21
0.8%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+11
-1.2pp
Australian
+146
+4.4pp
Scottish
+28
+0.8pp
Irish
-34
-1.6pp
German
-7
-0.5pp
Italian
+7
+0.2pp
Dutch
+4
+0.1pp
Greek
+11
+0.4pp
Chinese
+15
+0.5pp
Polish
+8
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Onkaparinga Hills. 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 | 1,288 | 49.3% | 48.5% | 1,277 | 50.5% | 47.8% | +11 | -1.2pp |
| Australian | 1,107 | 42.4% | 37.7% | 961 | 38.0% | 37.5% | +146 | +4.4pp |
| Scottish | 248 | 9.5% | 10.0% | 220 | 8.7% | 9.6% | +28 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 210 | 8.0% | 8.5% | 244 | 9.6% | 8.7% | -34 | -1.6pp |
| German | 192 | 7.4% | 7.4% | 199 | 7.9% | 7.2% | -7 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 81 | 3.1% | 2.9% | 74 | 2.9% | 2.7% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 78 | 3.0% | 2.4% | 74 | 2.9% | 2.2% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 32 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 21 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 22 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 7 | 0.3% | 1.0% | +15 | +0.5pp |
| Polish | 21 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 13 | 0.5% | 1.1% | +8 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).