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 Sellicks Beach were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sellicks Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sellicks Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sellicks Beach, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
1,385
% of total
51.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,385
51.2%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,027
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,027
38.0%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
265
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
265
9.8%
+1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
244
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
244
9.0%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
162
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
162
6.0%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
73
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
73
2.7%
-1.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
55
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
55
2.0%
-0.2pp
Polish
2021 count
42
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
42
1.6%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
40
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
40
1.5%
+1.3pp
Greek
2021 count
40
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
40
1.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+72
+1.0pp
Australian
+20
-0.5pp
Irish
+34
+1.0pp
Scottish
+42
+1.3pp
German
-8
-0.5pp
Italian
-23
-1.0pp
Dutch
-2
-0.2pp
Polish
+8
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+35
+1.3pp
Greek
-1
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sellicks 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 | 1,385 | 51.2% | 48.5% | 1,313 | 50.2% | 47.8% | +72 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 1,027 | 38.0% | 37.7% | 1,007 | 38.5% | 37.5% | +20 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 265 | 9.8% | 8.5% | 231 | 8.8% | 8.7% | +34 | +1.0pp |
| Scottish | 244 | 9.0% | 10.0% | 202 | 7.7% | 9.6% | +42 | +1.3pp |
| German | 162 | 6.0% | 7.4% | 170 | 6.5% | 7.2% | -8 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 73 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 96 | 3.7% | 2.7% | -23 | -1.0pp |
| Dutch | 55 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 57 | 2.2% | 2.2% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Polish | 42 | 1.6% | 1.2% | 34 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 40 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +35 | +1.3pp |
| Greek | 40 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 41 | 1.6% | 1.0% | -1 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).