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 Paralowie were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Paralowie - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Paralowie in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Paralowie, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
5,496
% of total
31.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
5,496
31.4%
-2.2pp
Australian
2021 count
5,185
% of total
29.6%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
5,185
29.6%
-3.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
948
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
948
5.4%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
915
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
915
5.2%
-1.0pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
915
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
915
5.2%
+0.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
866
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
866
4.9%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
847
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
847
4.8%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
597
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
597
3.4%
-0.8pp
Hazara
2021 count
532
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
532
3.0%
+1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
499
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
499
2.9%
+2.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-58
-2.2pp
Australian
-295
-3.6pp
Scottish
-26
-0.5pp
Irish
-111
-1.0pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+149
+0.6pp
Vietnamese
+69
+0.1pp
German
-97
-0.9pp
Italian
-105
-0.8pp
Hazara
+313
+1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+428
+2.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Paralowie. 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 | |
| English | 5,496 | 31.4% | 30.8% | 5,554 | 33.6% | 33.2% | -58 | -2.2pp |
| Australian | 5,185 | 29.6% | 27.0% | 5,480 | 33.2% | 29.3% | -295 | -3.6pp |
| Scottish | 948 | 5.4% | 5.6% | 974 | 5.9% | 6.2% | -26 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 915 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 1,026 | 6.2% | 6.0% | -111 | -1.0pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 915 | 5.2% | 2.2% | 766 | 4.6% | 2.1% | +149 | +0.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 866 | 4.9% | 3.9% | 797 | 4.8% | 4.1% | +69 | +0.1pp |
| German | 847 | 4.8% | 5.1% | 944 | 5.7% | 5.8% | -97 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 597 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 702 | 4.2% | 5.2% | -105 | -0.8pp |
| Hazara | 532 | 3.0% | 2.3% | 219 | 1.3% | 0.9% | +313 | +1.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 499 | 2.9% | 2.3% | 71 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +428 | +2.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).