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 Springfield (SA) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Springfield (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Springfield (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Springfield (SA), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
190
% of total
34.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
190
34.7%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
165
% of total
30.1%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
165
30.1%
+4.9pp
German
2021 count
50
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
50
9.1%
+2.5pp
Irish
2021 count
48
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
48
8.8%
-4.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
47
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
47
8.6%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
45
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
45
8.2%
+0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
35
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
35
6.4%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
31
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
31
5.7%
+0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
18
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
18
3.3%
+2.0pp
Lebanese
2021 count
11
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
11
2.0%
-1.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+9
+0.4pp
Australian
+32
+4.9pp
German
+15
+2.5pp
Irish
-24
-4.9pp
Scottish
+2
+0.1pp
Chinese
+4
+0.4pp
Greek
+4
+0.5pp
Italian
+4
+0.6pp
Indian
+11
+2.0pp
Lebanese
-5
-1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Springfield (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 | 190 | 34.7% | 42.1% | 181 | 34.3% | 41.5% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 165 | 30.1% | 33.7% | 133 | 25.2% | 33.3% | +32 | +4.9pp |
| German | 50 | 9.1% | 8.3% | 35 | 6.6% | 8.1% | +15 | +2.5pp |
| Irish | 48 | 8.8% | 9.5% | 72 | 13.7% | 10.0% | -24 | -4.9pp |
| Scottish | 47 | 8.6% | 10.6% | 45 | 8.5% | 10.2% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 45 | 8.2% | 4.3% | 41 | 7.8% | 4.0% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| Greek | 35 | 6.4% | 3.5% | 31 | 5.9% | 3.5% | +4 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 31 | 5.7% | 4.5% | 27 | 5.1% | 4.0% | +4 | +0.6pp |
| Indian | 18 | 3.3% | 1.9% | 7 | 1.3% | 1.6% | +11 | +2.0pp |
| Lebanese | 11 | 2.0% | 0.7% | 16 | 3.0% | 0.7% | -5 | -1.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).