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 Smithfield Plains were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Smithfield Plains - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Smithfield Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield Plains, with comparison markers for Playford (C).
English
2021 count
1,287
% of total
38.9%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,287
38.9%
-2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,214
% of total
36.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,214
36.7%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
217
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
217
6.6%
-2.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
204
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+5.9pp
204
6.2%
+5.9pp
German
2021 count
180
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
180
5.4%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
174
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
174
5.3%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
70
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
70
2.1%
+0.1pp
Burundian
2021 count
70
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
70
2.1%
+0.4pp
Hazara
2021 count
59
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
59
1.8%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
53
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
53
1.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+99
-2.5pp
Australian
+157
-0.1pp
Scottish
-30
-2.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+195
+5.9pp
German
+35
+0.4pp
Irish
-5
-0.9pp
Italian
+13
+0.1pp
Burundian
+21
+0.4pp
Hazara
+51
+1.5pp
Dutch
+8
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Smithfield Plains. 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 | 1,287 | 38.9% | 41.6% | 1,188 | 41.4% | 43.2% | +99 | -2.5pp |
| Australian | 1,214 | 36.7% | 35.6% | 1,057 | 36.8% | 36.9% | +157 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 217 | 6.6% | 7.6% | 247 | 8.6% | 8.2% | -30 | -2.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 204 | 6.2% | 4.0% | 9 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +195 | +5.9pp |
| German | 180 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 145 | 5.0% | 5.9% | +35 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 174 | 5.3% | 6.2% | 179 | 6.2% | 7.0% | -5 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 70 | 2.1% | 4.0% | 57 | 2.0% | 3.8% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Burundian | 70 | 2.1% | 0.7% | 49 | 1.7% | 0.7% | +21 | +0.4pp |
| Hazara | 59 | 1.8% | 1.2% | 8 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +51 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 53 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 45 | 1.6% | 1.6% | +8 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).