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 Sanderston were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sanderston - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sanderston in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid Murray (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sanderston, with comparison markers for Mid Murray (DC).
English
2021 count
39
% of total
28.1%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
39
28.1%
+3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
20
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
20
14.4%
-4.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
14
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
14
10.1%
+5.8pp
Irish
2021 count
13
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
13
9.4%
+5.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-2,153
+3.4pp
Australian
-1,652
-4.4pp
Scottish
-367
+5.8pp
Irish
-323
+5.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sanderston. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid Murray (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid Murray (DC)% | Count | % | Mid Murray (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 39 | 28.1% | 21.0% | 2,192 | 24.7% | 20.3% | -2,153 | +3.4pp |
| Australian | 20 | 14.4% | 19.5% | 1,672 | 18.8% | 19.8% | -1,652 | -4.4pp |
| Scottish | 14 | 10.1% | 4.2% | 381 | 4.3% | 4.1% | -367 | +5.8pp |
| Irish | 13 | 9.4% | 3.3% | 336 | 3.8% | 3.3% | -323 | +5.6pp |
| Total | 139 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,884 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -8,745 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).