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 Plain were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Salisbury Plain - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Salisbury Plain in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury Plain, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
444
% of total
33.3%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
444
33.3%
-3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
356
% of total
26.7%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
356
26.7%
-5.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
95
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
95
7.1%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
94
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
94
7.1%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
82
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
82
6.2%
-0.6pp
Bhutanese
2021 count
60
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
60
4.5%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
52
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
52
3.9%
+0.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
50
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
50
3.8%
+1.9pp
Greek
2021 count
39
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
39
2.9%
-1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
35
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
35
2.6%
+2.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
0
-3.3pp
Australian
-30
-5.1pp
Scottish
+22
+1.1pp
Italian
-13
-1.7pp
Irish
-1
-0.6pp
Bhutanese
+29
+1.9pp
German
+8
+0.3pp
Nepalese
+27
+1.9pp
Greek
-14
-1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+29
+2.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Salisbury Plain. 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 | 444 | 33.3% | 30.8% | 444 | 36.6% | 33.2% | 0 | -3.3pp |
| Australian | 356 | 26.7% | 27.0% | 386 | 31.8% | 29.3% | -30 | -5.1pp |
| Scottish | 95 | 7.1% | 5.6% | 73 | 6.0% | 6.2% | +22 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 94 | 7.1% | 4.8% | 107 | 8.8% | 5.2% | -13 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 82 | 6.2% | 5.1% | 83 | 6.8% | 6.0% | -1 | -0.6pp |
| Bhutanese | 60 | 4.5% | 0.8% | 31 | 2.6% | 0.9% | +29 | +1.9pp |
| German | 52 | 3.9% | 5.1% | 44 | 3.6% | 5.8% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Nepalese | 50 | 3.8% | 1.0% | 23 | 1.9% | 0.6% | +27 | +1.9pp |
| Greek | 39 | 2.9% | 1.5% | 53 | 4.4% | 1.7% | -14 | -1.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 35 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 6 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +29 | +2.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).