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 (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Smithfield (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Smithfield (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (SA), with comparison markers for Playford (C).
English
2021 count
927
% of total
37.3%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
927
37.3%
-2.8pp
Australian
2021 count
789
% of total
31.8%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
789
31.8%
-2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
185
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
185
7.5%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
131
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
131
5.3%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
116
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
116
4.7%
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
98
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
98
3.9%
+3.5pp
Italian
2021 count
87
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
87
3.5%
+0.3pp
Hazara
2021 count
67
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
67
2.7%
+1.4pp
Afghan
2021 count
48
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
48
1.9%
-1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
40
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
40
1.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-46
-2.8pp
Australian
-35
-2.2pp
Scottish
-2
-0.2pp
German
+3
0.0pp
Irish
-17
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+88
+3.5pp
Italian
+10
+0.3pp
Hazara
+35
+1.4pp
Afghan
-39
-1.7pp
Dutch
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Smithfield (SA). 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 | 927 | 37.3% | 41.6% | 973 | 40.1% | 43.2% | -46 | -2.8pp |
| Australian | 789 | 31.8% | 35.6% | 824 | 34.0% | 36.9% | -35 | -2.2pp |
| Scottish | 185 | 7.5% | 7.6% | 187 | 7.7% | 8.2% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| German | 131 | 5.3% | 5.7% | 128 | 5.3% | 5.9% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 116 | 4.7% | 6.2% | 133 | 5.5% | 7.0% | -17 | -0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 98 | 3.9% | 4.0% | 10 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +88 | +3.5pp |
| Italian | 87 | 3.5% | 4.0% | 77 | 3.2% | 3.8% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Hazara | 67 | 2.7% | 1.2% | 32 | 1.3% | 0.5% | +35 | +1.4pp |
| Afghan | 48 | 1.9% | 0.7% | 87 | 3.6% | 0.9% | -39 | -1.7pp |
| Dutch | 40 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 37 | 1.5% | 1.6% | +3 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).