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 Macdonald Park were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Macdonald Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Macdonald Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Macdonald Park, with comparison markers for Playford (C).
English
2021 count
183
% of total
36.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
183
36.4%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
160
% of total
31.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
160
31.8%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
47
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
47
9.3%
+2.2pp
Italian
2021 count
42
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
42
8.3%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
31
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
31
6.2%
+3.0pp
German
2021 count
17
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
17
3.4%
-3.3pp
Greek
2021 count
17
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
17
3.4%
-1.8pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
17
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
17
3.4%
-0.2pp
Romanian
2021 count
15
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
15
3.0%
+1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
11
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
11
2.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-8
+0.6pp
Australian
-6
+0.7pp
Irish
+9
+2.2pp
Italian
-4
-0.3pp
Scottish
+14
+3.0pp
German
-19
-3.3pp
Greek
-11
-1.8pp
Vietnamese
-2
-0.2pp
Romanian
+8
+1.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Macdonald Park. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 183 | 36.4% | 41.6% | 191 | 35.8% | 43.2% | -8 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 160 | 31.8% | 35.6% | 166 | 31.1% | 36.9% | -6 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 47 | 9.3% | 6.2% | 38 | 7.1% | 7.0% | +9 | +2.2pp |
| Italian | 42 | 8.3% | 4.0% | 46 | 8.6% | 3.8% | -4 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 31 | 6.2% | 7.6% | 17 | 3.2% | 8.2% | +14 | +3.0pp |
| German | 17 | 3.4% | 5.7% | 36 | 6.7% | 5.9% | -19 | -3.3pp |
| Greek | 17 | 3.4% | 1.0% | 28 | 5.2% | 1.0% | -11 | -1.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 17 | 3.4% | 1.0% | 19 | 3.6% | 1.0% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Romanian | 15 | 3.0% | 0.3% | 7 | 1.3% | 0.3% | +8 | +1.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 11 | 2.2% | 4.0% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).