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 Bordertown were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bordertown - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bordertown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tatiara (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bordertown, with comparison markers for Tatiara (DC).
Australian
2021 count
1,210
% of total
39.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,210
39.1%
+0.7pp
English
2021 count
1,092
% of total
35.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,092
35.3%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
280
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
280
9.0%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
227
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
227
7.3%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
198
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
198
6.4%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
118
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
118
3.8%
+0.3pp
Malay
2021 count
79
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
79
2.6%
+2.4pp
Hazara
2021 count
68
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
68
2.2%
+1.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
55
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
55
1.8%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
42
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
42
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+75
+0.7pp
English
+44
-0.2pp
German
-6
-0.7pp
Scottish
-1
-0.4pp
Irish
+9
0.0pp
Filipino
+14
+0.3pp
Malay
+74
+2.4pp
Hazara
+56
+1.8pp
Chinese
+5
+0.1pp
Italian
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bordertown. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tatiara (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tatiara (DC)% | Count | % | Tatiara (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,210 | 39.1% | 42.0% | 1,135 | 38.4% | 42.3% | +75 | +0.7pp |
| English | 1,092 | 35.3% | 37.5% | 1,048 | 35.5% | 39.1% | +44 | -0.2pp |
| German | 280 | 9.0% | 11.6% | 286 | 9.7% | 11.2% | -6 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 227 | 7.3% | 8.3% | 228 | 7.7% | 8.7% | -1 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 198 | 6.4% | 6.1% | 189 | 6.4% | 6.8% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 118 | 3.8% | 1.9% | 104 | 3.5% | 1.6% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Malay | 79 | 2.6% | 1.3% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +74 | +2.4pp |
| Hazara | 68 | 2.2% | 1.0% | 12 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +56 | +1.8pp |
| Chinese | 55 | 1.8% | 1.0% | 50 | 1.7% | 0.9% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 42 | 1.4% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).