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 Renmark Paringa (DC) were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Renmark Paringa (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Renmark Paringa (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Renmark Paringa (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
3,739
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,739
38.2%
-0.2pp
English
2021 count
3,574
% of total
36.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
3,574
36.5%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
1,176
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,176
12.0%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
613
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
613
6.3%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
539
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
539
5.5%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
450
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
450
4.6%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
339
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
339
3.5%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
308
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
308
3.1%
+2.8pp
Indian
2021 count
192
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
192
2.0%
-0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
138
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
138
1.4%
+1.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+99
-0.2pp
English
+237
+1.3pp
German
-41
-0.8pp
Scottish
-2
-0.2pp
Irish
+14
0.0pp
Greek
-36
-0.5pp
Italian
+8
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+284
+2.8pp
Indian
-8
-0.1pp
Punjabi
+100
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Renmark Paringa (DC). 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 | |
| Australian | 3,739 | 38.2% | 40.5% | 3,640 | 38.4% | 42.1% | +99 | -0.2pp |
| English | 3,574 | 36.5% | 42.0% | 3,337 | 35.2% | 41.1% | +237 | +1.3pp |
| German | 1,176 | 12.0% | 10.7% | 1,217 | 12.8% | 10.9% | -41 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 613 | 6.3% | 9.2% | 615 | 6.5% | 9.0% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 539 | 5.5% | 7.7% | 525 | 5.5% | 7.8% | +14 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 450 | 4.6% | 0.8% | 486 | 5.1% | 0.8% | -36 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 339 | 3.5% | 2.2% | 331 | 3.5% | 2.1% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 308 | 3.1% | 4.3% | 24 | 0.3% | 1.2% | +284 | +2.8pp |
| Indian | 192 | 2.0% | 0.4% | 200 | 2.1% | 0.4% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 138 | 1.4% | 0.1% | 38 | 0.4% | 0.0% | +100 | +1.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).