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.
Chart view
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
17.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
2,729
17.0%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,971
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,971
12.3%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
725
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
725
4.5%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
705
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
705
4.4%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
704
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
704
4.4%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
661
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
661
4.1%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
497
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
497
3.1%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
352
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
352
2.2%
+0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
337
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
337
2.1%
0.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
179
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
179
1.1%
+0.3pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+73
-0.7pp
Australian
-18
-0.9pp
Scottish
+75
+0.2pp
Chinese
+197
+1.0pp
Italian
+63
+0.1pp
Irish
+37
0.0pp
German
-1
-0.2pp
Indian
+102
+0.5pp
Greek
+22
0.0pp
Vietnamese
+53
+0.3pp
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 | 17.0% | 18.4% | 2,656 | 17.7% | 18.6% | +73 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 1,971 | 12.3% | 15.1% | 1,989 | 13.2% | 15.5% | -18 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 725 | 4.5% | 4.1% | 650 | 4.3% | 4.1% | +75 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 705 | 4.4% | 2.0% | 508 | 3.4% | 1.9% | +197 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 704 | 4.4% | 3.4% | 641 | 4.3% | 3.4% | +63 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 661 | 4.1% | 3.8% | 624 | 4.1% | 4.0% | +37 | 0.0pp |
| German | 497 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 498 | 3.3% | 3.4% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 352 | 2.2% | 1.5% | 250 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +102 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 337 | 2.1% | 1.4% | 315 | 2.1% | 1.4% | +22 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 179 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 126 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +53 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 16,045 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,040 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,005 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).