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 Peterborough (DC) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Peterborough (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Peterborough (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Peterborough (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
673
% of total
20.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
673
20.6%
-1.0pp
English
2021 count
647
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
647
19.8%
-2.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
144
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
144
4.4%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
139
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
139
4.3%
-1.0pp
German
2021 count
130
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
130
4.0%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
109
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
109
3.3%
+3.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
22
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
22
0.7%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
19
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
19
0.6%
0.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
18
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
18
0.6%
-
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
13
0.4%
-0.2pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-53
-1.0pp
English
-111
-2.8pp
Scottish
-17
-0.4pp
Irish
-39
-1.0pp
German
-6
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+105
+3.2pp
Dutch
-4
-0.1pp
Polish
-1
0.0pp
Italian
-7
-0.2pp
Maori
+4
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Peterborough (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 673 | 20.6% | 20.3% | 726 | 21.6% | 21.0% | -53 | -1.0pp |
| English | 647 | 19.8% | 21.0% | 758 | 22.6% | 20.5% | -111 | -2.8pp |
| Scottish | 144 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 161 | 4.8% | 4.5% | -17 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 139 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 178 | 5.3% | 3.9% | -39 | -1.0pp |
| German | 130 | 4.0% | 5.3% | 136 | 4.1% | 5.4% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 109 | 3.3% | 2.2% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +105 | +3.2pp |
| Dutch | 22 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 26 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 19 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 20 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 18 | 0.6% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 13 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 20 | 0.6% | 1.1% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 3,265 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,357 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -92 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).