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 Tonsley were Australian, English and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Tonsley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Tonsley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Marion (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tonsley, with comparison markers for Marion (C).
Australian
2021 count
201
% of total
27.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
201
27.1%
-1.1pp
English
2021 count
192
% of total
25.8%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
192
25.8%
-4.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
53
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
53
7.1%
-2.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
43
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
43
5.8%
-1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
43
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
43
5.8%
-1.8pp
German
2021 count
38
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
38
5.1%
-1.0pp
Nepalese
2021 count
37
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
37
5.0%
+3.7pp
Indian
2021 count
27
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
27
3.6%
-1.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
20
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
20
2.7%
+1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
14
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
14
1.9%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+82
-1.1pp
English
+64
-4.7pp
Chinese
+13
-2.5pp
Scottish
+12
-1.6pp
Irish
+11
-1.8pp
German
+12
-1.0pp
Nepalese
+31
+3.7pp
Indian
+5
-1.7pp
Filipino
+15
+1.6pp
Italian
-4
-2.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Tonsley. 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 | |
| Australian | 201 | 27.1% | 30.9% | 119 | 28.2% | 31.6% | +82 | -1.1pp |
| English | 192 | 25.8% | 38.4% | 128 | 30.5% | 38.7% | +64 | -4.7pp |
| Chinese | 53 | 7.1% | 5.1% | 40 | 9.6% | 4.8% | +13 | -2.5pp |
| Scottish | 43 | 5.8% | 8.8% | 31 | 7.4% | 8.9% | +12 | -1.6pp |
| Irish | 43 | 5.8% | 8.8% | 32 | 7.6% | 9.3% | +11 | -1.8pp |
| German | 38 | 5.1% | 6.7% | 26 | 6.1% | 6.8% | +12 | -1.0pp |
| Nepalese | 37 | 5.0% | 1.9% | 6 | 1.3% | 0.5% | +31 | +3.7pp |
| Indian | 27 | 3.6% | 3.2% | 22 | 5.3% | 2.7% | +5 | -1.7pp |
| Filipino | 20 | 2.7% | 1.6% | 5 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +15 | +1.6pp |
| Italian | 14 | 1.9% | 3.8% | 18 | 4.3% | 3.5% | -4 | -2.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).