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 Roxby Downs (M) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Roxby Downs (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Roxby Downs (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Roxby Downs (M), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
1,605
% of total
20.3%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
1,605
20.3%
-2.8pp
English
2021 count
1,429
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,429
18.0%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
320
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
320
4.0%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
297
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
297
3.8%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
224
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
224
2.8%
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
181
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
181
2.3%
+2.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
136
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
136
1.7%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
93
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
93
1.2%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
60
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
60
0.8%
-0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
54
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
54
0.7%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-175
-2.8pp
English
+38
0.0pp
Scottish
-20
-0.4pp
Irish
-10
-0.2pp
German
-52
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+160
+2.0pp
Filipino
+70
+0.8pp
Italian
+11
+0.1pp
Dutch
-11
-0.1pp
Maori
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Roxby Downs (M). 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 | 1,605 | 20.3% | 20.3% | 1,780 | 23.1% | 21.0% | -175 | -2.8pp |
| English | 1,429 | 18.0% | 21.0% | 1,391 | 18.0% | 20.5% | +38 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 320 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 340 | 4.4% | 4.5% | -20 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 297 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 307 | 4.0% | 3.9% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| German | 224 | 2.8% | 5.3% | 276 | 3.6% | 5.4% | -52 | -0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 181 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 21 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +160 | +2.0pp |
| Filipino | 136 | 1.7% | 0.4% | 66 | 0.9% | 0.3% | +70 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 93 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 82 | 1.1% | 1.1% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 60 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 71 | 0.9% | 0.8% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Maori | 54 | 0.7% | 0.1% | 49 | 0.6% | 0.1% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 7,919 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,720 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +199 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).