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 Murray Bridge East were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Murray Bridge East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Murray Bridge East in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Murray Bridge (RC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Murray Bridge East, with comparison markers for Murray Bridge (RC).
English
2021 count
560
% of total
23.5%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
560
23.5%
-2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
472
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
472
19.8%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
186
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
186
7.8%
+3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
110
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
110
4.6%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
62
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
62
2.6%
-1.5pp
Italian
2021 count
44
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
44
1.8%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
38
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
38
1.6%
-
Dutch
2021 count
27
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
27
1.1%
-1.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
17
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
17
0.7%
+0.5pp
New Zealander
2021 count
12
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
12
0.5%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+181
-2.3pp
Australian
+176
-0.3pp
German
+120
+3.3pp
Scottish
+47
+0.3pp
Irish
+2
-1.5pp
Italian
+19
+0.1pp
Dutch
-4
-1.0pp
Filipino
+14
+0.5pp
New Zealander
+9
+0.3pp
Polish
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Murray Bridge East. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Murray Bridge (RC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Murray Bridge (RC)% | Count | % | Murray Bridge (RC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 560 | 23.5% | 20.3% | 379 | 25.8% | 19.6% | +181 | -2.3pp |
| Australian | 472 | 19.8% | 19.0% | 296 | 20.1% | 19.2% | +176 | -0.3pp |
| German | 186 | 7.8% | 6.4% | 66 | 4.5% | 6.6% | +120 | +3.3pp |
| Scottish | 110 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 63 | 4.3% | 4.0% | +47 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 62 | 2.6% | 3.1% | 60 | 4.1% | 3.2% | +2 | -1.5pp |
| Italian | 44 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 25 | 1.7% | 1.4% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 38 | 1.6% | 2.5% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Dutch | 27 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 31 | 2.1% | 0.7% | -4 | -1.0pp |
| Filipino | 17 | 0.7% | 1.3% | 3 | 0.2% | 1.0% | +14 | +0.5pp |
| New Zealander | 12 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 2,383 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,471 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +912 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).