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 Southern Mallee (DC) were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Southern Mallee (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Southern Mallee (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southern Mallee (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Australian
2021 count
782
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
782
19.8%
-2.5pp
English
2021 count
767
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
767
19.4%
+2.2pp
German
2021 count
266
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
266
6.7%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
147
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
147
3.7%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
145
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
145
3.7%
+0.2pp
South African
2021 count
55
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
55
1.4%
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
32
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
32
0.8%
+0.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
29
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
29
0.7%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
28
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
28
0.7%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
17
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
17
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-125
-2.5pp
English
+67
+2.2pp
German
-19
-0.3pp
Scottish
+8
+0.3pp
Irish
+2
+0.2pp
South African
+39
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+28
+0.7pp
Filipino
+11
+0.3pp
Dutch
+1
0.0pp
Italian
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Southern Mallee (DC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 782 | 19.8% | 20.3% | 907 | 22.3% | 21.0% | -125 | -2.5pp |
| English | 767 | 19.4% | 21.0% | 700 | 17.2% | 20.5% | +67 | +2.2pp |
| German | 266 | 6.7% | 5.3% | 285 | 7.0% | 5.4% | -19 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 147 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 139 | 3.4% | 4.5% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 145 | 3.7% | 3.8% | 143 | 3.5% | 3.9% | +2 | +0.2pp |
| South African | 55 | 1.4% | 0.1% | 16 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +39 | +1.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 32 | 0.8% | 2.2% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +28 | +0.7pp |
| Filipino | 29 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 18 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +11 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 28 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 27 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 17 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 11 | 0.3% | 1.1% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 3,949 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,061 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -112 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).