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 Walkerville (M) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Walkerville (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Walkerville (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Walkerville (M), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
English
2021 count
2,729
% of total
34.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
2,729
34.0%
-1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,971
% of total
24.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
1,971
24.6%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
725
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
725
9.0%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
705
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
705
8.8%
+2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
704
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
704
8.8%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
661
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
661
8.2%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
497
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
497
6.2%
-0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
352
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
352
4.4%
+1.1pp
Greek
2021 count
337
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
337
4.2%
0.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
179
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
179
2.2%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+73
-1.2pp
Australian
-18
-1.7pp
Scottish
+75
+0.4pp
Chinese
+197
+2.1pp
Italian
+63
+0.3pp
Irish
+37
-0.1pp
German
-1
-0.4pp
Indian
+102
+1.1pp
Greek
+22
0.0pp
Vietnamese
+53
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Walkerville (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,729 | 34.0% | 36.8% | 2,656 | 35.2% | 37.3% | +73 | -1.2pp |
| Australian | 1,971 | 24.6% | 30.2% | 1,989 | 26.3% | 30.9% | -18 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 725 | 9.0% | 8.2% | 650 | 8.6% | 8.2% | +75 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 705 | 8.8% | 4.1% | 508 | 6.7% | 3.9% | +197 | +2.1pp |
| Italian | 704 | 8.8% | 6.8% | 641 | 8.5% | 6.8% | +63 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 661 | 8.2% | 7.6% | 624 | 8.3% | 8.1% | +37 | -0.1pp |
| German | 497 | 6.2% | 6.7% | 498 | 6.6% | 6.8% | -1 | -0.4pp |
| Indian | 352 | 4.4% | 3.0% | 250 | 3.3% | 2.4% | +102 | +1.1pp |
| Greek | 337 | 4.2% | 2.7% | 315 | 4.2% | 2.7% | +22 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 179 | 2.2% | 1.6% | 126 | 1.7% | 1.5% | +53 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).