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 Morphett Vale were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Morphett Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Morphett Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Morphett Vale, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
10,978
% of total
45.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
10,978
45.7%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
9,139
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
9,139
38.1%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,225
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,225
9.3%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
1,908
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,908
7.9%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
1,592
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,592
6.6%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
603
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
603
2.5%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
558
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
558
2.3%
+2.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
477
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
477
2.0%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
289
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
289
1.2%
+0.4pp
Polish
2021 count
284
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
284
1.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+232
-0.7pp
Australian
+410
+0.4pp
Scottish
+65
0.0pp
Irish
-48
-0.6pp
German
-91
-0.7pp
Italian
+15
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+486
+2.0pp
Dutch
+1
-0.1pp
Filipino
+93
+0.4pp
Polish
+23
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Morphett Vale. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 10,978 | 45.7% | 48.5% | 10,746 | 46.4% | 47.8% | +232 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 9,139 | 38.1% | 37.7% | 8,729 | 37.7% | 37.5% | +410 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 2,225 | 9.3% | 10.0% | 2,160 | 9.3% | 9.6% | +65 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 1,908 | 7.9% | 8.5% | 1,956 | 8.5% | 8.7% | -48 | -0.6pp |
| German | 1,592 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 1,683 | 7.3% | 7.2% | -91 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 603 | 2.5% | 2.9% | 588 | 2.5% | 2.7% | +15 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 558 | 2.3% | 1.9% | 72 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +486 | +2.0pp |
| Dutch | 477 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 476 | 2.1% | 2.2% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 289 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 196 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +93 | +0.4pp |
| Polish | 284 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 261 | 1.1% | 1.1% | +23 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).