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 East (part) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Salisbury East (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Salisbury East (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury East (part), with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
3,706
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
3,706
20.0%
-0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
2,807
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
2,807
15.2%
-7.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
648
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
648
3.5%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
567
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-9.0pp
567
3.1%
-9.0pp
Irish
2021 count
564
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
564
3.0%
-2.8pp
Italian
2021 count
464
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
464
2.5%
-
Indian
2021 count
230
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
230
1.2%
-
Hazara
2021 count
209
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
209
1.1%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
183
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
183
1.0%
-
Afghan
2021 count
179
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
179
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,663
-0.9pp
Australian
+2,760
-7.6pp
Scottish
+640
-0.4pp
German
+542
-9.0pp
Irish
+552
-2.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Salisbury East (part). 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 | 3,706 | 20.0% | 15.4% | 43 | 20.9% | 16.6% | +3,663 | -0.9pp |
| Australian | 2,807 | 15.2% | 13.5% | 47 | 22.8% | 14.6% | +2,760 | -7.6pp |
| Scottish | 648 | 3.5% | 2.8% | 8 | 3.9% | 3.1% | +640 | -0.4pp |
| German | 567 | 3.1% | 2.5% | 25 | 12.1% | 2.9% | +542 | -9.0pp |
| Irish | 564 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 12 | 5.8% | 3.0% | +552 | -2.8pp |
| Italian | 464 | 2.5% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| Indian | 230 | 1.2% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Hazara | 209 | 1.1% | 1.2% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 183 | 1.0% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Afghan | 179 | 1.0% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Total | 18,514 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 206 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +18,308 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).