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 Malvern (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Malvern (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Malvern (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Unley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Malvern (SA), with comparison markers for Unley (C).
English
2021 count
1,034
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,034
38.1%
-1.9pp
Australian
2021 count
864
% of total
31.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
864
31.8%
+1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
253
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
253
9.3%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
243
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
243
9.0%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
210
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
210
7.7%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
208
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
208
7.7%
+2.5pp
German
2021 count
203
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
203
7.5%
-1.1pp
Greek
2021 count
184
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
184
6.8%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
49
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
49
1.8%
+0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
47
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
47
1.7%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4
-1.9pp
Australian
+86
+1.6pp
Scottish
-1
-0.6pp
Irish
+16
+0.2pp
Italian
+27
+0.6pp
Chinese
+74
+2.5pp
German
-18
-1.1pp
Greek
+21
+0.5pp
Dutch
+19
+0.6pp
Indian
+13
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Malvern (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Unley (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Unley (C)% | Count | % | Unley (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,034 | 38.1% | 37.5% | 1,030 | 40.0% | 36.9% | +4 | -1.9pp |
| Australian | 864 | 31.8% | 29.5% | 778 | 30.2% | 29.3% | +86 | +1.6pp |
| Scottish | 253 | 9.3% | 10.7% | 254 | 9.9% | 10.1% | -1 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 243 | 9.0% | 10.1% | 227 | 8.8% | 10.3% | +16 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 210 | 7.7% | 6.5% | 183 | 7.1% | 6.1% | +27 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 208 | 7.7% | 5.9% | 134 | 5.2% | 6.0% | +74 | +2.5pp |
| German | 203 | 7.5% | 7.9% | 221 | 8.6% | 7.7% | -18 | -1.1pp |
| Greek | 184 | 6.8% | 5.5% | 163 | 6.3% | 5.4% | +21 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 49 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 30 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +19 | +0.6pp |
| Indian | 47 | 1.7% | 2.6% | 34 | 1.3% | 2.4% | +13 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).