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 were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whyalla - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whyalla in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
English
2021 count
1,491
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
1,491
20.7%
+4.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,355
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-7.4pp
1,355
18.8%
-7.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
394
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-
394
5.5%
-
Irish
2021 count
345
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-
345
4.8%
-
German
2021 count
322
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
322
4.5%
-3.4pp
Italian
2021 count
107
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
107
1.5%
-3.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
96
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
96
1.3%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
91
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
91
1.3%
-
Greek
2021 count
75
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
75
1.0%
-
Indian
2021 count
49
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
49
0.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,470
+4.0pp
Australian
+1,322
-7.4pp
German
+312
-3.4pp
Italian
+101
-3.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whyalla. 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 | 1,491 | 20.7% | 20.8% | 21 | 16.7% | 20.6% | +1,470 | +4.0pp |
| Australian | 1,355 | 18.8% | 19.6% | 33 | 26.2% | 20.7% | +1,322 | -7.4pp |
| Scottish | 394 | 5.5% | 5.4% | - | - | 5.5% | - | - |
| Irish | 345 | 4.8% | 3.7% | - | - | 3.9% | - | - |
| German | 322 | 4.5% | 3.5% | 10 | 7.9% | 3.4% | +312 | -3.4pp |
| Italian | 107 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 6 | 4.8% | 1.1% | +101 | -3.3pp |
| Dutch | 96 | 1.3% | 0.9% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 91 | 1.3% | 2.6% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Greek | 75 | 1.0% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Indian | 49 | 0.7% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Total | 7,200 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 126 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,074 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).