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 East were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Elizabeth East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Elizabeth East in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Elizabeth East, with comparison markers for Playford (C).
English
2021 count
1,811
% of total
39.3%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
1,811
39.3%
-2.8pp
Australian
2021 count
1,420
% of total
30.8%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
1,420
30.8%
-3.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
347
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
347
7.5%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
307
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
307
6.7%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
230
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
230
5.0%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
192
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
192
4.2%
+3.7pp
Hazara
2021 count
144
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
144
3.1%
+1.5pp
Afghan
2021 count
116
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
116
2.5%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
101
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
101
2.2%
+0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
68
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
68
1.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-60
-2.8pp
Australian
-116
-3.8pp
Scottish
+23
+0.2pp
Irish
+8
0.0pp
German
+19
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+168
+3.7pp
Hazara
+71
+1.5pp
Afghan
-34
-0.9pp
Italian
+22
+0.4pp
Filipino
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Elizabeth East. 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 | 1,811 | 39.3% | 41.6% | 1,871 | 42.1% | 43.2% | -60 | -2.8pp |
| Australian | 1,420 | 30.8% | 35.6% | 1,536 | 34.6% | 36.9% | -116 | -3.8pp |
| Scottish | 347 | 7.5% | 7.6% | 324 | 7.3% | 8.2% | +23 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 307 | 6.7% | 6.2% | 299 | 6.7% | 7.0% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| German | 230 | 5.0% | 5.7% | 211 | 4.8% | 5.9% | +19 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 192 | 4.2% | 4.0% | 24 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +168 | +3.7pp |
| Hazara | 144 | 3.1% | 1.2% | 73 | 1.6% | 0.5% | +71 | +1.5pp |
| Afghan | 116 | 2.5% | 0.7% | 150 | 3.4% | 0.9% | -34 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 101 | 2.2% | 4.0% | 79 | 1.8% | 3.8% | +22 | +0.4pp |
| Filipino | 68 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 68 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).