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 Norrie were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whyalla Norrie - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whyalla Norrie in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla Norrie, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
English
2021 count
2,640
% of total
42.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,640
42.0%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,478
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
2,478
39.4%
-2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
650
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
650
10.3%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
455
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
455
7.2%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
403
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
403
6.4%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
354
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
354
5.6%
+4.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
216
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
216
3.4%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
101
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
101
1.6%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
95
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
95
1.5%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
58
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
58
0.9%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-95
+0.6pp
Australian
-270
-2.2pp
Scottish
-15
+0.2pp
German
-1
+0.3pp
Irish
-68
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+289
+4.6pp
Filipino
+55
+1.0pp
Italian
-19
-0.2pp
Dutch
-25
-0.3pp
Indian
+10
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whyalla Norrie. 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 | 2,640 | 42.0% | 41.7% | 2,735 | 41.4% | 41.3% | -95 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 2,478 | 39.4% | 39.2% | 2,748 | 41.6% | 41.3% | -270 | -2.2pp |
| Scottish | 650 | 10.3% | 10.8% | 665 | 10.1% | 10.9% | -15 | +0.2pp |
| German | 455 | 7.2% | 7.0% | 456 | 6.9% | 6.8% | -1 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 403 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 471 | 7.1% | 7.7% | -68 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 354 | 5.6% | 5.1% | 65 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +289 | +4.6pp |
| Filipino | 216 | 3.4% | 2.0% | 161 | 2.4% | 1.5% | +55 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 101 | 1.6% | 2.3% | 120 | 1.8% | 2.2% | -19 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 95 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 120 | 1.8% | 2.0% | -25 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 58 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 48 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +10 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).