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 Yankalilla (DC) were English, Australian and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Yankalilla (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Yankalilla (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

English

+459

+1.0pp

Australian

+117

-1.3pp

Scottish

+147

+0.7pp

Irish

+133

+0.6pp

German

+106

+0.4pp

Italian

+30

+0.1pp

Dutch

+3

-0.1pp

Australian Aboriginal

+92

+0.8pp

Welsh

+33

+0.3pp

French

+20

+0.1pp

Data table

Ancestry for Yankalilla (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Ancestry for Yankalilla (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Ancestry for Yankalilla (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
English3,02425.9%21.0%2,56524.9%20.5%+459+1.0pp
Australian2,12318.2%20.3%2,00619.5%21.0%+117-1.3pp
Scottish6765.8%4.6%5295.1%4.5%+147+0.7pp
Irish5965.1%3.8%4634.5%3.9%+133+0.6pp
German4944.2%5.3%3883.8%5.4%+106+0.4pp
Italian1301.1%1.1%1001.0%1.1%+30+0.1pp
Dutch1291.1%0.8%1261.2%0.8%+3-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal970.8%2.2%50.0%0.6%+92+0.8pp
Welsh660.6%0.3%330.3%0.3%+33+0.3pp
French470.4%0.2%270.3%0.2%+20+0.1pp
Total11,677100.0%100.0%10,296100.0%100.0%+1,3810.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).