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 Mitcham (SA) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mitcham (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mitcham (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mitcham (SA), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
803
% of total
43.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
803
43.8%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
653
% of total
35.6%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
653
35.6%
+4.1pp
Irish
2021 count
190
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
190
10.4%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
178
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
178
9.7%
-1.1pp
German
2021 count
138
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
138
7.5%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
131
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
131
7.2%
+1.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
89
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
89
4.9%
+1.8pp
Greek
2021 count
49
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
49
2.7%
-0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
30
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
30
1.6%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
28
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
28
1.5%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+18
+0.7pp
Australian
+79
+4.1pp
Irish
-15
-0.9pp
Scottish
-19
-1.1pp
German
-3
-0.2pp
Italian
+32
+1.8pp
Chinese
+32
+1.8pp
Greek
-7
-0.4pp
Indian
+9
+0.4pp
Dutch
+10
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mitcham (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 803 | 43.8% | 42.1% | 785 | 43.1% | 41.5% | +18 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 653 | 35.6% | 33.7% | 574 | 31.5% | 33.3% | +79 | +4.1pp |
| Irish | 190 | 10.4% | 9.5% | 205 | 11.3% | 10.0% | -15 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 178 | 9.7% | 10.6% | 197 | 10.8% | 10.2% | -19 | -1.1pp |
| German | 138 | 7.5% | 8.3% | 141 | 7.7% | 8.1% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 131 | 7.2% | 4.5% | 99 | 5.4% | 4.0% | +32 | +1.8pp |
| Chinese | 89 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 57 | 3.1% | 4.0% | +32 | +1.8pp |
| Greek | 49 | 2.7% | 3.5% | 56 | 3.1% | 3.5% | -7 | -0.4pp |
| Indian | 30 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 21 | 1.2% | 1.6% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 28 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 18 | 1.0% | 1.7% | +10 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).