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 Mid Murray (DC) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mid Murray (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mid Murray (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mid Murray (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
English
2021 count
3,849
% of total
42.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
3,849
42.0%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,583
% of total
39.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
3,583
39.1%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
1,446
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,446
15.8%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
775
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
775
8.5%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
614
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
614
6.7%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
201
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
201
2.2%
+1.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
150
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
150
1.6%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
117
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
117
1.3%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
62
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
62
0.7%
+0.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
52
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
52
0.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+348
+1.5pp
Australian
+159
-0.5pp
German
-83
-1.9pp
Scottish
+63
+0.3pp
Irish
+47
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+175
+1.9pp
Dutch
+6
-0.1pp
Italian
-1
-0.1pp
Polish
+15
+0.2pp
Welsh
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mid Murray (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,849 | 42.0% | 42.0% | 3,501 | 40.5% | 41.1% | +348 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 3,583 | 39.1% | 40.5% | 3,424 | 39.6% | 42.1% | +159 | -0.5pp |
| German | 1,446 | 15.8% | 10.7% | 1,529 | 17.7% | 10.9% | -83 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 775 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 712 | 8.2% | 9.0% | +63 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 614 | 6.7% | 7.7% | 567 | 6.6% | 7.8% | +47 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 201 | 2.2% | 4.3% | 26 | 0.3% | 1.2% | +175 | +1.9pp |
| Dutch | 150 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 144 | 1.7% | 1.6% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 117 | 1.3% | 2.2% | 118 | 1.4% | 2.1% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 62 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 47 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +15 | +0.2pp |
| Welsh | 52 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 50 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +2 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).