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 Plympton Park were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Plympton Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Plympton Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Marion (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Plympton Park, with comparison markers for Marion (C).
English
2021 count
1,304
% of total
16.9%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
1,304
16.9%
+3.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,139
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
1,139
14.7%
-5.3pp
Irish
2021 count
333
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
333
4.3%
-4.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
294
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
294
3.8%
-1.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
276
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-
276
3.6%
-
German
2021 count
226
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-10.4pp
226
2.9%
-10.4pp
Indian
2021 count
205
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
205
2.7%
-
Italian
2021 count
177
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
177
2.3%
-
Greek
2021 count
111
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
111
1.4%
-
Nepalese
2021 count
106
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
106
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,288
+3.6pp
Australian
+1,115
-5.3pp
Irish
+322
-4.9pp
Scottish
+288
-1.2pp
German
+210
-10.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Plympton Park. 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 | 1,304 | 16.9% | 19.2% | 16 | 13.3% | 19.3% | +1,288 | +3.6pp |
| Australian | 1,139 | 14.7% | 15.5% | 24 | 20.0% | 15.8% | +1,115 | -5.3pp |
| Irish | 333 | 4.3% | 4.4% | 11 | 9.2% | 4.7% | +322 | -4.9pp |
| Scottish | 294 | 3.8% | 4.4% | 6 | 5.0% | 4.5% | +288 | -1.2pp |
| Chinese | 276 | 3.6% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| German | 226 | 2.9% | 3.3% | 16 | 13.3% | 3.4% | +210 | -10.4pp |
| Indian | 205 | 2.7% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Italian | 177 | 2.3% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Greek | 111 | 1.4% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Nepalese | 106 | 1.4% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 7,726 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 120 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,606 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).