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 Torrens Park were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Torrens Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Torrens Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Torrens Park, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
1,167
% of total
43.4%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
1,167
43.4%
+3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
868
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
868
32.3%
+1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
408
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
408
15.2%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
295
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
295
11.0%
-1.8pp
German
2021 count
217
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
217
8.1%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
135
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
135
5.0%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
123
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
123
4.6%
+0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
103
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
103
3.8%
-0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
53
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
53
2.0%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
49
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
49
1.8%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+127
+3.3pp
Australian
+57
+1.1pp
Scottish
+62
+1.9pp
Irish
-36
-1.8pp
German
+9
+0.1pp
Chinese
+20
+0.6pp
Italian
+22
+0.7pp
Greek
+2
-0.1pp
Indian
+6
+0.2pp
Dutch
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Torrens Park. 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 | 1,167 | 43.4% | 42.1% | 1,040 | 40.1% | 41.5% | +127 | +3.3pp |
| Australian | 868 | 32.3% | 33.7% | 811 | 31.2% | 33.3% | +57 | +1.1pp |
| Scottish | 408 | 15.2% | 10.6% | 346 | 13.3% | 10.2% | +62 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 295 | 11.0% | 9.5% | 331 | 12.8% | 10.0% | -36 | -1.8pp |
| German | 217 | 8.1% | 8.3% | 208 | 8.0% | 8.1% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 135 | 5.0% | 4.3% | 115 | 4.4% | 4.0% | +20 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 123 | 4.6% | 4.5% | 101 | 3.9% | 4.0% | +22 | +0.7pp |
| Greek | 103 | 3.8% | 3.5% | 101 | 3.9% | 3.5% | +2 | -0.1pp |
| Indian | 53 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 47 | 1.8% | 1.6% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 49 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 47 | 1.8% | 1.7% | +2 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).