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 Playford were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whyalla Playford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whyalla Playford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla Playford, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
English
2021 count
1,099
% of total
43.3%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,099
43.3%
+2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,075
% of total
42.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,075
42.3%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
321
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
321
12.6%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
213
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
213
8.4%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
207
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
207
8.1%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
62
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
62
2.4%
+2.0pp
Italian
2021 count
48
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
48
1.9%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
46
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
46
1.8%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
42
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
42
1.7%
0.0pp
Croatian
2021 count
39
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
39
1.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+44
+2.1pp
Australian
-28
-0.8pp
Scottish
+16
+0.7pp
Irish
-13
-0.4pp
German
-2
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+52
+2.0pp
Italian
-10
-0.4pp
Greek
+4
+0.2pp
Dutch
-1
0.0pp
Croatian
+4
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whyalla Playford. 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 | 1,099 | 43.3% | 41.7% | 1,055 | 41.2% | 41.3% | +44 | +2.1pp |
| Australian | 1,075 | 42.3% | 39.2% | 1,103 | 43.1% | 41.3% | -28 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 321 | 12.6% | 10.8% | 305 | 11.9% | 10.9% | +16 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 213 | 8.4% | 7.3% | 226 | 8.8% | 7.7% | -13 | -0.4pp |
| German | 207 | 8.1% | 7.0% | 209 | 8.2% | 6.8% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 62 | 2.4% | 5.1% | 10 | 0.4% | 0.9% | +52 | +2.0pp |
| Italian | 48 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 58 | 2.3% | 2.2% | -10 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 46 | 1.8% | 1.2% | 42 | 1.6% | 1.1% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 42 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 43 | 1.7% | 2.0% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Croatian | 39 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 35 | 1.4% | 0.7% | +4 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).