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 Salisbury Downs were English, Australian and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Salisbury Downs - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Salisbury Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury Downs, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
1,775
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
1,775
14.1%
-5.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,462
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
1,462
11.6%
-6.9pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
418
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-
418
3.3%
-
Italian
2021 count
339
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
339
2.7%
-
Irish
2021 count
313
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
313
2.5%
-4.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
297
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
297
2.4%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
263
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
263
2.1%
-3.7pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
228
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
228
1.8%
-
Filipino
2021 count
203
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
203
1.6%
-
Chinese
2021 count
175
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
175
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,742
-5.0pp
Australian
+1,430
-6.9pp
Irish
+301
-4.4pp
Scottish
+292
-0.5pp
German
+253
-3.7pp
Inadequately described
+12
-2.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Salisbury Downs. 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 | 1,775 | 14.1% | 15.4% | 33 | 19.1% | 16.6% | +1,742 | -5.0pp |
| Australian | 1,462 | 11.6% | 13.5% | 32 | 18.5% | 14.6% | +1,430 | -6.9pp |
| Vietnamese | 418 | 3.3% | 2.0% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 339 | 2.7% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| Irish | 313 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 12 | 6.9% | 3.0% | +301 | -4.4pp |
| Scottish | 297 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 5 | 2.9% | 3.1% | +292 | -0.5pp |
| German | 263 | 2.1% | 2.5% | 10 | 5.8% | 2.9% | +253 | -3.7pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 228 | 1.8% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Filipino | 203 | 1.6% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Chinese | 175 | 1.4% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Total | 12,559 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 173 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,386 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).