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 Victor Harbor (C) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Victor Harbor (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Victor Harbor (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Victor Harbor (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
8,476
% of total
26.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
8,476
26.3%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
6,074
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
6,074
18.8%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,826
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,826
5.7%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,498
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,498
4.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
1,397
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,397
4.3%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
317
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
317
1.0%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
304
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
304
0.9%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
259
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
259
0.8%
+0.7pp
Welsh
2021 count
135
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
135
0.4%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
90
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
90
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+941
+0.6pp
Australian
+694
+0.4pp
Scottish
+264
+0.4pp
Irish
+193
+0.1pp
German
+150
0.0pp
Dutch
+55
+0.1pp
Italian
+6
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+225
+0.7pp
Welsh
+18
0.0pp
Chinese
+36
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Victor Harbor (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,476 | 26.3% | 21.0% | 7,535 | 25.7% | 20.5% | +941 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 6,074 | 18.8% | 20.3% | 5,380 | 18.4% | 21.0% | +694 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 1,826 | 5.7% | 4.6% | 1,562 | 5.3% | 4.5% | +264 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 1,498 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 1,305 | 4.5% | 3.9% | +193 | +0.1pp |
| German | 1,397 | 4.3% | 5.3% | 1,247 | 4.3% | 5.4% | +150 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 317 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 262 | 0.9% | 0.8% | +55 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 304 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 298 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 259 | 0.8% | 2.2% | 34 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +225 | +0.7pp |
| Welsh | 135 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 117 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +18 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 90 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 54 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +36 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 32,287 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 29,301 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,986 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).