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 Willunga were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Willunga - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Willunga in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Willunga, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
1,303
% of total
53.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
1,303
53.3%
+1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
943
% of total
38.6%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
943
38.6%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
319
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
319
13.0%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
228
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
228
9.3%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
217
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
217
8.9%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
70
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
70
2.9%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
54
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
54
2.2%
+0.4pp
Welsh
2021 count
43
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
43
1.8%
+0.9pp
French
2021 count
28
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
28
1.1%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
27
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
27
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+114
+1.8pp
Australian
+9
-1.9pp
Scottish
+36
+0.7pp
Irish
+15
+0.1pp
German
+40
+1.2pp
Dutch
+23
+0.9pp
Italian
+13
+0.4pp
Welsh
+22
+0.9pp
French
+13
+0.5pp
New Zealander
-20
-0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for 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 | 1,303 | 53.3% | 48.5% | 1,189 | 51.5% | 47.8% | +114 | +1.8pp |
| Australian | 943 | 38.6% | 37.7% | 934 | 40.5% | 37.5% | +9 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 319 | 13.0% | 10.0% | 283 | 12.3% | 9.6% | +36 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 228 | 9.3% | 8.5% | 213 | 9.2% | 8.7% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| German | 217 | 8.9% | 7.4% | 177 | 7.7% | 7.2% | +40 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 70 | 2.9% | 2.4% | 47 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +23 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 54 | 2.2% | 2.9% | 41 | 1.8% | 2.7% | +13 | +0.4pp |
| Welsh | 43 | 1.8% | 1.1% | 21 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +22 | +0.9pp |
| French | 28 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 15 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 27 | 1.1% | 1.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).