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 Heights were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Salisbury Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Salisbury Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury Heights, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
1,938
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
1,938
21.7%
+4.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,732
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,732
19.4%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
383
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-
383
4.3%
-
Scottish
2021 count
339
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-
339
3.8%
-
German
2021 count
338
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
338
3.8%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
281
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
281
3.1%
-3.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
82
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
82
0.9%
-4.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
79
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
79
0.9%
-
Greek
2021 count
75
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
75
0.8%
-
Polish
2021 count
75
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
75
0.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,928
+4.5pp
Australian
+1,721
+0.4pp
German
+335
-1.4pp
Irish
+277
-3.8pp
Dutch
+79
-4.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Salisbury Heights. 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 | 1,938 | 21.7% | 15.4% | 10 | 17.2% | 16.6% | +1,928 | +4.5pp |
| Australian | 1,732 | 19.4% | 13.5% | 11 | 19.0% | 14.6% | +1,721 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 383 | 4.3% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| Scottish | 339 | 3.8% | 2.8% | - | - | 3.1% | - | - |
| German | 338 | 3.8% | 2.5% | 3 | 5.2% | 2.9% | +335 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 281 | 3.1% | 2.6% | 4 | 6.9% | 3.0% | +277 | -3.8pp |
| Dutch | 82 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 3 | 5.2% | 0.7% | +79 | -4.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 79 | 0.9% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Greek | 75 | 0.8% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Polish | 75 | 0.8% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Total | 8,939 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 58 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,881 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).