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 Pooraka were English, Australian and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pooraka - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pooraka in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pooraka, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
1,899
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
-16.7pp
1,899
12.5%
-16.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,801
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-10.6pp
1,801
11.9%
-10.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
647
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-
647
4.3%
-
Italian
2021 count
429
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-
429
2.8%
-
Indian
2021 count
393
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-
393
2.6%
-
Irish
2021 count
374
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
374
2.5%
-0.9pp
German
2021 count
370
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
370
2.4%
-2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
367
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
367
2.4%
-1.0pp
Hazara
2021 count
271
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
271
1.8%
-
Chinese
2021 count
240
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
240
1.6%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,873
-16.7pp
Australian
+1,781
-10.6pp
Irish
+371
-0.9pp
German
+366
-2.1pp
Scottish
+364
-1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pooraka. 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 | 1,899 | 12.5% | 15.4% | 26 | 29.2% | 16.6% | +1,873 | -16.7pp |
| Australian | 1,801 | 11.9% | 13.5% | 20 | 22.5% | 14.6% | +1,781 | -10.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 647 | 4.3% | 2.0% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 429 | 2.8% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| Indian | 393 | 2.6% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Irish | 374 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 3 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +371 | -0.9pp |
| German | 370 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 4 | 4.5% | 2.9% | +366 | -2.1pp |
| Scottish | 367 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 3 | 3.4% | 3.1% | +364 | -1.0pp |
| Hazara | 271 | 1.8% | 1.2% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Chinese | 240 | 1.6% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Total | 15,132 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 89 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +15,043 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).