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 Paringa were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Paringa - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Paringa in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Renmark Paringa (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Paringa, with comparison markers for Renmark Paringa (DC).
Australian
2021 count
441
% of total
39.0%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
441
39.0%
+2.3pp
English
2021 count
417
% of total
36.9%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
417
36.9%
-2.5pp
German
2021 count
151
% of total
13.4%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
151
13.4%
+2.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
95
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
95
8.4%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
54
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
54
4.8%
-0.9pp
Tongan
2021 count
48
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
48
4.2%
+3.1pp
Greek
2021 count
40
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
40
3.5%
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
30
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
30
2.7%
-
Italian
2021 count
30
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
30
2.7%
+0.3pp
Oceanian, nfd
2021 count
12
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
12
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+35
+2.3pp
English
-18
-2.5pp
German
+28
+2.3pp
Scottish
+1
-0.1pp
Irish
-9
-0.9pp
Tongan
+36
+3.1pp
Greek
+16
+1.3pp
Italian
+3
+0.3pp
Croatian
+5
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Paringa. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Renmark Paringa (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Renmark Paringa (DC)% | Count | % | Renmark Paringa (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 441 | 39.0% | 38.2% | 406 | 36.7% | 38.4% | +35 | +2.3pp |
| English | 417 | 36.9% | 36.5% | 435 | 39.4% | 35.2% | -18 | -2.5pp |
| German | 151 | 13.4% | 12.0% | 123 | 11.1% | 12.8% | +28 | +2.3pp |
| Scottish | 95 | 8.4% | 6.3% | 94 | 8.5% | 6.5% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 54 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 63 | 5.7% | 5.5% | -9 | -0.9pp |
| Tongan | 48 | 4.2% | 0.5% | 12 | 1.1% | 0.1% | +36 | +3.1pp |
| Greek | 40 | 3.5% | 4.6% | 24 | 2.2% | 5.1% | +16 | +1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 30 | 2.7% | 3.1% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Italian | 30 | 2.7% | 3.5% | 27 | 2.4% | 3.5% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| Oceanian, nfd | 12 | 1.1% | 0.1% | - | - | - | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).