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 Burton (SA) were Australian, English and Khmer (Cambodian).
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Burton (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Burton (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Burton (SA), with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,931
% of total
29.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,931
29.6%
-0.1pp
English
2021 count
1,885
% of total
28.9%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
1,885
28.9%
-3.4pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
530
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
530
8.1%
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
457
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
457
7.0%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
301
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
301
4.6%
-1.1pp
German
2021 count
262
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
262
4.0%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
256
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
256
3.9%
-1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
234
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
234
3.6%
-1.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
178
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
178
2.7%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
167
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
167
2.6%
+2.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+46
-0.1pp
English
-162
-3.4pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+32
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
+6
-0.1pp
Scottish
-63
-1.1pp
German
-42
-0.8pp
Irish
-63
-1.1pp
Italian
-71
-1.2pp
Filipino
+4
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+155
+2.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Burton (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,931 | 29.6% | 27.0% | 1,885 | 29.7% | 29.3% | +46 | -0.1pp |
| English | 1,885 | 28.9% | 30.8% | 2,047 | 32.3% | 33.2% | -162 | -3.4pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 530 | 8.1% | 2.2% | 498 | 7.8% | 2.1% | +32 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 457 | 7.0% | 3.9% | 451 | 7.1% | 4.1% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 301 | 4.6% | 5.6% | 364 | 5.7% | 6.2% | -63 | -1.1pp |
| German | 262 | 4.0% | 5.1% | 304 | 4.8% | 5.8% | -42 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 256 | 3.9% | 5.1% | 319 | 5.0% | 6.0% | -63 | -1.1pp |
| Italian | 234 | 3.6% | 4.8% | 305 | 4.8% | 5.2% | -71 | -1.2pp |
| Filipino | 178 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 174 | 2.7% | 2.1% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 167 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 12 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +155 | +2.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).