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 Port Noarlunga were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Port Noarlunga - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Port Noarlunga in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Noarlunga, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
1,701
% of total
52.4%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
1,701
52.4%
+3.9pp
Australian
2021 count
1,000
% of total
30.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,000
30.8%
+1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
367
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
367
11.3%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
342
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
342
10.5%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
259
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
259
8.0%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
105
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
105
3.2%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
87
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
87
2.7%
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
56
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
56
1.7%
+1.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
35
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
1.1%
0.0pp
South African
2021 count
32
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
32
1.0%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+256
+3.9pp
Australian
+111
+1.0pp
Scottish
+30
0.0pp
Irish
+46
+0.6pp
German
+70
+1.7pp
Dutch
+17
+0.2pp
Italian
+28
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+53
+1.6pp
Welsh
+1
0.0pp
South African
+16
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Port 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 | 1,701 | 52.4% | 48.5% | 1,445 | 48.5% | 47.8% | +256 | +3.9pp |
| Australian | 1,000 | 30.8% | 37.7% | 889 | 29.8% | 37.5% | +111 | +1.0pp |
| Scottish | 367 | 11.3% | 10.0% | 337 | 11.3% | 9.6% | +30 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 342 | 10.5% | 8.5% | 296 | 9.9% | 8.7% | +46 | +0.6pp |
| German | 259 | 8.0% | 7.4% | 189 | 6.3% | 7.2% | +70 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 105 | 3.2% | 2.4% | 88 | 3.0% | 2.2% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 87 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 59 | 2.0% | 2.7% | +28 | +0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 56 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +53 | +1.6pp |
| Welsh | 35 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 34 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| South African | 32 | 1.0% | 0.5% | 16 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +16 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).