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 Marion were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Marion - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Marion in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Marion (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Marion, with comparison markers for Marion (C).
English
2021 count
1,553
% of total
37.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,553
37.9%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,268
% of total
30.9%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,268
30.9%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
352
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
352
8.6%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
342
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
342
8.3%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
272
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
272
6.6%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
251
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
251
6.1%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
169
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
169
4.1%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
124
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
124
3.0%
+0.1pp
Nepalese
2021 count
114
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
114
2.8%
+2.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
83
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
83
2.0%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+121
+1.2pp
Australian
-17
-2.0pp
Scottish
+39
+0.6pp
Irish
+29
+0.3pp
German
+14
0.0pp
Chinese
+36
+0.6pp
Italian
-3
-0.3pp
Indian
+9
+0.1pp
Nepalese
+100
+2.4pp
Filipino
+4
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Marion. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Marion (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Marion (C)% | Count | % | Marion (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,553 | 37.9% | 38.4% | 1,432 | 36.7% | 38.7% | +121 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 1,268 | 30.9% | 30.9% | 1,285 | 32.9% | 31.6% | -17 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 352 | 8.6% | 8.8% | 313 | 8.0% | 8.9% | +39 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 342 | 8.3% | 8.8% | 313 | 8.0% | 9.3% | +29 | +0.3pp |
| German | 272 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 258 | 6.6% | 6.8% | +14 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 251 | 6.1% | 5.1% | 215 | 5.5% | 4.8% | +36 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 169 | 4.1% | 3.8% | 172 | 4.4% | 3.5% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 124 | 3.0% | 3.2% | 115 | 2.9% | 2.7% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| Nepalese | 114 | 2.8% | 1.9% | 14 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +100 | +2.4pp |
| Filipino | 83 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 79 | 2.0% | 1.3% | +4 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).