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 Waterloo Corner (part) were English, Australian and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Waterloo Corner (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Waterloo Corner (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Waterloo Corner (part), with comparison markers for Playford (C).
English
2021 count
299
% of total
27.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
299
27.1%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
229
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
229
20.8%
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
155
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
155
14.1%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
142
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
142
12.9%
-2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
62
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
62
5.6%
+1.9pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
45
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
45
4.1%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
43
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
43
3.9%
-1.4pp
German
2021 count
33
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
33
3.0%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
27
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
27
2.4%
-0.9pp
Lebanese
2021 count
26
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
26
2.4%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-37
-0.3pp
Australian
-22
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
-13
+0.4pp
Italian
-49
-2.7pp
Scottish
+17
+1.9pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
0
+0.4pp
Irish
-22
-1.4pp
German
-5
-0.1pp
Greek
-13
-0.9pp
Lebanese
+8
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Waterloo Corner (part). 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 | 299 | 27.1% | 41.6% | 336 | 27.4% | 43.2% | -37 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 229 | 20.8% | 35.6% | 251 | 20.5% | 36.9% | -22 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 155 | 14.1% | 1.0% | 168 | 13.7% | 1.0% | -13 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 142 | 12.9% | 4.0% | 191 | 15.6% | 3.8% | -49 | -2.7pp |
| Scottish | 62 | 5.6% | 7.6% | 45 | 3.7% | 8.2% | +17 | +1.9pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 45 | 4.1% | 0.6% | 45 | 3.7% | 0.6% | 0 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 43 | 3.9% | 6.2% | 65 | 5.3% | 7.0% | -22 | -1.4pp |
| German | 33 | 3.0% | 5.7% | 38 | 3.1% | 5.9% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 27 | 2.4% | 1.0% | 40 | 3.3% | 1.0% | -13 | -0.9pp |
| Lebanese | 26 | 2.4% | 0.2% | 18 | 1.5% | 0.2% | +8 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).