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 Morphettville were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Morphettville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Morphettville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Marion (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Morphettville, with comparison markers for Marion (C).
English
2021 count
1,355
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-5.7pp
1,355
18.4%
-5.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,141
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
1,141
15.5%
-4.6pp
Irish
2021 count
351
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
351
4.8%
+2.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
281
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
281
3.8%
-1.6pp
German
2021 count
267
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
267
3.6%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
154
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-
154
2.1%
-
Chinese
2021 count
137
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
137
1.9%
-
Indian
2021 count
130
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
130
1.8%
-
Nepalese
2021 count
94
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
94
1.3%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
83
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
83
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,301
-5.7pp
Australian
+1,096
-4.6pp
Irish
+346
+2.6pp
Scottish
+269
-1.6pp
German
+257
-0.9pp
Maori
+2
-3.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Morphettville. 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 | 1,355 | 18.4% | 19.2% | 54 | 24.1% | 19.3% | +1,301 | -5.7pp |
| Australian | 1,141 | 15.5% | 15.5% | 45 | 20.1% | 15.8% | +1,096 | -4.6pp |
| Irish | 351 | 4.8% | 4.4% | 5 | 2.2% | 4.7% | +346 | +2.6pp |
| Scottish | 281 | 3.8% | 4.4% | 12 | 5.4% | 4.5% | +269 | -1.6pp |
| German | 267 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 10 | 4.5% | 3.4% | +257 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 154 | 2.1% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Chinese | 137 | 1.9% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Indian | 130 | 1.8% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Nepalese | 94 | 1.3% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 83 | 1.1% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 7,355 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 224 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,131 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).