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 Willunga were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Port Willunga - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Port Willunga in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Willunga, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
894
% of total
50.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
894
50.1%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
692
% of total
38.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
692
38.8%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
215
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
215
12.0%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
195
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
195
10.9%
+2.2pp
German
2021 count
156
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
156
8.7%
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
57
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
57
3.2%
-
Italian
2021 count
43
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
43
2.4%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
35
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
2.0%
0.0pp
Welsh
2021 count
24
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
24
1.3%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
14
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
14
0.8%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+86
+0.7pp
Australian
+71
+0.9pp
Scottish
+25
+0.4pp
Irish
+52
+2.2pp
German
+34
+1.2pp
Italian
+18
+0.9pp
Dutch
+2
0.0pp
Welsh
0
-0.2pp
Chinese
+8
+0.4pp
Greek
+2
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Port Willunga. 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 | 894 | 50.1% | 48.5% | 808 | 49.4% | 47.8% | +86 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 692 | 38.8% | 37.7% | 621 | 37.9% | 37.5% | +71 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 215 | 12.0% | 10.0% | 190 | 11.6% | 9.6% | +25 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 195 | 10.9% | 8.5% | 143 | 8.7% | 8.7% | +52 | +2.2pp |
| German | 156 | 8.7% | 7.4% | 122 | 7.5% | 7.2% | +34 | +1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 57 | 3.2% | 1.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Italian | 43 | 2.4% | 2.9% | 25 | 1.5% | 2.7% | +18 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 35 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 33 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Welsh | 24 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 24 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 0 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 14 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 6 | 0.4% | 1.0% | +8 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).