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 Whyalla Jenkins were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whyalla Jenkins - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whyalla Jenkins in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla Jenkins, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
English
2021 count
815
% of total
41.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
815
41.6%
-0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
811
% of total
41.4%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
811
41.4%
+3.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
258
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
258
13.2%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
150
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
150
7.6%
-1.0pp
German
2021 count
105
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
105
5.4%
-1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
59
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
59
3.0%
+2.6pp
Italian
2021 count
57
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
57
2.9%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
39
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
39
2.0%
+1.2pp
Indian
2021 count
31
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
31
1.6%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
29
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
29
1.5%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
-0.4pp
Australian
+66
+3.2pp
Scottish
+12
+0.6pp
Irish
-18
-1.0pp
German
-35
-1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+52
+2.6pp
Italian
-2
-0.1pp
Filipino
+23
+1.2pp
Indian
0
0.0pp
Greek
+10
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whyalla Jenkins. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whyalla (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whyalla (C)% | Count | % | Whyalla (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 815 | 41.6% | 41.7% | 819 | 42.0% | 41.3% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| Australian | 811 | 41.4% | 39.2% | 745 | 38.2% | 41.3% | +66 | +3.2pp |
| Scottish | 258 | 13.2% | 10.8% | 246 | 12.6% | 10.9% | +12 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 150 | 7.6% | 7.3% | 168 | 8.6% | 7.7% | -18 | -1.0pp |
| German | 105 | 5.4% | 7.0% | 140 | 7.2% | 6.8% | -35 | -1.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 59 | 3.0% | 5.1% | 7 | 0.4% | 0.9% | +52 | +2.6pp |
| Italian | 57 | 2.9% | 2.3% | 59 | 3.0% | 2.2% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 39 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 16 | 0.8% | 1.5% | +23 | +1.2pp |
| Indian | 31 | 1.6% | 0.8% | 31 | 1.6% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 29 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 19 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +10 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).