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 Whites Valley were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whites Valley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whites Valley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whites Valley, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
170
% of total
54.3%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
170
54.3%
-4.7pp
Australian
2021 count
119
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
119
38.0%
-3.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
35
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
35
11.2%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
19
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
19
6.1%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
18
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
18
5.8%
-5.0pp
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
13
4.2%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
10
3.2%
+1.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
-4.7pp
Australian
-3
-3.4pp
Scottish
+1
-0.3pp
German
-4
-1.7pp
Irish
-14
-5.0pp
Italian
0
-0.2pp
Dutch
+6
+1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whites Valley. 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 | 170 | 54.3% | 48.5% | 174 | 59.0% | 47.8% | -4 | -4.7pp |
| Australian | 119 | 38.0% | 37.7% | 122 | 41.4% | 37.5% | -3 | -3.4pp |
| Scottish | 35 | 11.2% | 10.0% | 34 | 11.5% | 9.6% | +1 | -0.3pp |
| German | 19 | 6.1% | 7.4% | 23 | 7.8% | 7.2% | -4 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 18 | 5.8% | 8.5% | 32 | 10.8% | 8.7% | -14 | -5.0pp |
| Italian | 13 | 4.2% | 2.9% | 13 | 4.4% | 2.7% | 0 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 3.2% | 2.4% | 4 | 1.4% | 2.2% | +6 | +1.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).