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 South were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Murray Bridge South - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Murray Bridge South 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 South, with comparison markers for Murray Bridge (RC).
English
2021 count
95
% of total
50.3%
Change from 2016
+14.2pp
95
50.3%
+14.2pp
Australian
2021 count
71
% of total
37.6%
Change from 2016
-12.9pp
71
37.6%
-12.9pp
German
2021 count
46
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
46
24.3%
+5.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
13
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
13
6.9%
+2.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
11
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
11
5.8%
-3.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+25
+14.2pp
Australian
-27
-12.9pp
German
+9
+5.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+4
+2.3pp
Scottish
-6
-3.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Murray Bridge South. 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 | 95 | 50.3% | 40.6% | 70 | 36.1% | 39.1% | +25 | +14.2pp |
| Australian | 71 | 37.6% | 38.0% | 98 | 50.5% | 38.3% | -27 | -12.9pp |
| German | 46 | 24.3% | 12.9% | 37 | 19.1% | 13.2% | +9 | +5.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 13 | 6.9% | 5.0% | 9 | 4.6% | 0.8% | +4 | +2.3pp |
| Scottish | 11 | 5.8% | 8.1% | 17 | 8.8% | 7.9% | -6 | -3.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).