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 Netherby (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Netherby (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Netherby (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Netherby (SA), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
555
% of total
36.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
555
36.8%
-1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
431
% of total
28.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
431
28.5%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
166
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
166
11.0%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
160
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
160
10.6%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
126
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
126
8.3%
-0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
126
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
126
8.3%
+2.3pp
Italian
2021 count
102
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
102
6.8%
+1.9pp
Greek
2021 count
71
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
71
4.7%
-0.3pp
South African
2021 count
36
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
36
2.4%
+1.8pp
Indian
2021 count
28
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
28
1.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5
-1.6pp
Australian
-4
-1.9pp
Scottish
+13
+0.3pp
Irish
+25
+1.2pp
German
+1
-0.4pp
Chinese
+40
+2.3pp
Italian
+32
+1.9pp
Greek
-1
-0.3pp
South African
+27
+1.8pp
Indian
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Netherby (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 | 555 | 36.8% | 42.1% | 550 | 38.4% | 41.5% | +5 | -1.6pp |
| Australian | 431 | 28.5% | 33.7% | 435 | 30.4% | 33.3% | -4 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 166 | 11.0% | 10.6% | 153 | 10.7% | 10.2% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 160 | 10.6% | 9.5% | 135 | 9.4% | 10.0% | +25 | +1.2pp |
| German | 126 | 8.3% | 8.3% | 125 | 8.7% | 8.1% | +1 | -0.4pp |
| Chinese | 126 | 8.3% | 4.3% | 86 | 6.0% | 4.0% | +40 | +2.3pp |
| Italian | 102 | 6.8% | 4.5% | 70 | 4.9% | 4.0% | +32 | +1.9pp |
| Greek | 71 | 4.7% | 3.5% | 72 | 5.0% | 3.5% | -1 | -0.3pp |
| South African | 36 | 2.4% | 0.6% | 9 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +27 | +1.8pp |
| Indian | 28 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 27 | 1.9% | 1.6% | +1 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).