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 Elizabeth Downs were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Elizabeth Downs - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Elizabeth Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Elizabeth Downs, with comparison markers for Playford (C).
English
2021 count
2,170
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
2,170
42.1%
-2.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,852
% of total
35.9%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
1,852
35.9%
-3.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
402
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
402
7.8%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
373
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
373
7.2%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
297
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
297
5.8%
+4.7pp
German
2021 count
286
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
286
5.5%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
110
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
110
2.1%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
88
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
88
1.7%
-0.1pp
Hazara
2021 count
65
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
65
1.3%
+0.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
56
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
56
1.1%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-98
-2.6pp
Australian
-166
-3.9pp
Scottish
-17
-0.5pp
Irish
+7
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+239
+4.7pp
German
+18
+0.2pp
Italian
+8
+0.1pp
Dutch
-1
-0.1pp
Hazara
+33
+0.7pp
Filipino
+17
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Elizabeth Downs. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,170 | 42.1% | 41.6% | 2,268 | 44.7% | 43.2% | -98 | -2.6pp |
| Australian | 1,852 | 35.9% | 35.6% | 2,018 | 39.8% | 36.9% | -166 | -3.9pp |
| Scottish | 402 | 7.8% | 7.6% | 419 | 8.3% | 8.2% | -17 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 373 | 7.2% | 6.2% | 366 | 7.2% | 7.0% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 297 | 5.8% | 4.0% | 58 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +239 | +4.7pp |
| German | 286 | 5.5% | 5.7% | 268 | 5.3% | 5.9% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 110 | 2.1% | 4.0% | 102 | 2.0% | 3.8% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 88 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 89 | 1.8% | 1.6% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Hazara | 65 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 32 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +33 | +0.7pp |
| Filipino | 56 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 39 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +17 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).