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 Walkley Heights (part) were English, Australian and Indian.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Walkley Heights (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Walkley Heights (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Walkley Heights (part), with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).

Walkley Heights (part)
Salisbury (C)

English

2021 count

1,104

% of total

31.4%

Change from 2016

-2.7pp

Australian

2021 count

976

% of total

27.8%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Indian

2021 count

255

% of total

7.3%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

German

2021 count

232

% of total

6.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Scottish

2021 count

213

% of total

6.1%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Italian

2021 count

210

% of total

6.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Irish

2021 count

178

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Chinese

2021 count

127

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Vietnamese

2021 count

104

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Punjabi

2021 count

84

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Data table

Ancestry for Walkley Heights (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).

Ancestry for Walkley Heights (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Ancestry for Walkley Heights (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Salisbury (C)%Count%Salisbury (C)%Countpp
English1,10431.4%30.8%1,19334.1%33.2%-89-2.7pp
Australian97627.8%27.0%1,02429.3%29.3%-48-1.5pp
Indian2557.3%4.0%1945.5%3.1%+61+1.8pp
German2326.6%5.1%2336.7%5.8%-1-0.1pp
Scottish2136.1%5.6%2065.9%6.2%+7+0.2pp
Italian2106.0%4.8%2126.1%5.2%-2-0.1pp
Irish1785.1%5.1%1975.6%6.0%-19-0.5pp
Chinese1273.6%2.8%1383.9%3.0%-11-0.3pp
Vietnamese1043.0%3.9%1103.1%4.1%-6-0.1pp
Punjabi842.4%1.2%250.7%0.2%+59+1.7pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).