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 Port Lincoln (C) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Port Lincoln (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Port Lincoln (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Lincoln (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
6,035
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
6,035
21.0%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
6,030
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
6,030
21.0%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,368
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,368
4.8%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
1,314
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,314
4.6%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,149
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,149
4.0%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
888
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
888
3.1%
+2.6pp
Italian
2021 count
300
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
300
1.0%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
260
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
260
0.9%
+0.2pp
Croatian
2021 count
233
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
233
0.8%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
172
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
172
0.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+316
+0.7pp
Australian
-143
-1.0pp
Scottish
+87
+0.2pp
German
-5
-0.1pp
Irish
-60
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+759
+2.6pp
Italian
+34
+0.1pp
Dutch
+50
+0.2pp
Croatian
+12
0.0pp
Filipino
+51
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Port Lincoln (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,035 | 21.0% | 21.0% | 5,719 | 20.3% | 20.5% | +316 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 6,030 | 21.0% | 20.3% | 6,173 | 22.0% | 21.0% | -143 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,368 | 4.8% | 4.6% | 1,281 | 4.6% | 4.5% | +87 | +0.2pp |
| German | 1,314 | 4.6% | 5.3% | 1,319 | 4.7% | 5.4% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,149 | 4.0% | 3.8% | 1,209 | 4.3% | 3.9% | -60 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 888 | 3.1% | 2.2% | 129 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +759 | +2.6pp |
| Italian | 300 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 266 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +34 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 260 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 210 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +50 | +0.2pp |
| Croatian | 233 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 221 | 0.8% | 0.1% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 172 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 121 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +51 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 28,778 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 28,121 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +657 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).