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 Wakefield (DC) were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wakefield (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wakefield (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wakefield (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
3,121
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
3,121
23.1%
+0.7pp
English
2021 count
2,973
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
2,973
22.0%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
708
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
708
5.2%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
627
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
627
4.6%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
519
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
519
3.8%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
186
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
186
1.4%
+1.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
162
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
162
1.2%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
129
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
129
1.0%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
80
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
80
0.6%
-0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
40
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
40
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+76
+0.7pp
English
+91
+0.8pp
German
-41
-0.3pp
Scottish
-49
-0.4pp
Irish
+2
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+166
+1.3pp
Filipino
+31
+0.2pp
Italian
+12
+0.1pp
Dutch
-12
-0.1pp
Welsh
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wakefield (DC). 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 | |
| Australian | 3,121 | 23.1% | 20.3% | 3,045 | 22.4% | 21.0% | +76 | +0.7pp |
| English | 2,973 | 22.0% | 21.0% | 2,882 | 21.2% | 20.5% | +91 | +0.8pp |
| German | 708 | 5.2% | 5.3% | 749 | 5.5% | 5.4% | -41 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 627 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 676 | 5.0% | 4.5% | -49 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 519 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 517 | 3.8% | 3.9% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 186 | 1.4% | 2.2% | 20 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +166 | +1.3pp |
| Filipino | 162 | 1.2% | 0.4% | 131 | 1.0% | 0.3% | +31 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 129 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 117 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 80 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 92 | 0.7% | 0.8% | -12 | -0.1pp |
| Welsh | 40 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 37 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 13,530 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,580 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -50 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).