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 North were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Salisbury North - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Salisbury North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury North, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
3,609
% of total
33.8%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
3,609
33.8%
-2.9pp
Australian
2021 count
3,267
% of total
30.6%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
3,267
30.6%
-3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
644
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
644
6.0%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
551
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
551
5.2%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
549
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
549
5.1%
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
452
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
452
4.2%
+3.6pp
Italian
2021 count
350
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
350
3.3%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
299
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
299
2.8%
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
281
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
281
2.6%
+0.2pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
195
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
195
1.8%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-23
-2.9pp
Australian
-82
-3.3pp
Scottish
-4
-0.6pp
German
-6
-0.4pp
Irish
-38
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+396
+3.6pp
Italian
+17
-0.1pp
Filipino
+60
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
+41
+0.2pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+63
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Salisbury North. 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 | 3,609 | 33.8% | 30.8% | 3,632 | 36.7% | 33.2% | -23 | -2.9pp |
| Australian | 3,267 | 30.6% | 27.0% | 3,349 | 33.9% | 29.3% | -82 | -3.3pp |
| Scottish | 644 | 6.0% | 5.6% | 648 | 6.6% | 6.2% | -4 | -0.6pp |
| German | 551 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 557 | 5.6% | 5.8% | -6 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 549 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 587 | 5.9% | 6.0% | -38 | -0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 452 | 4.2% | 2.3% | 56 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +396 | +3.6pp |
| Italian | 350 | 3.3% | 4.8% | 333 | 3.4% | 5.2% | +17 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 299 | 2.8% | 2.5% | 239 | 2.4% | 2.1% | +60 | +0.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 281 | 2.6% | 3.9% | 240 | 2.4% | 4.1% | +41 | +0.2pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 195 | 1.8% | 2.2% | 132 | 1.3% | 2.1% | +63 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).