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 Millswood were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Millswood - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Millswood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Unley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Millswood, with comparison markers for Unley (C).
English
2021 count
914
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
914
21.2%
-2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
681
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
681
15.8%
-7.1pp
Irish
2021 count
275
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
275
6.4%
+2.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
258
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
258
6.0%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
187
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
187
4.3%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
156
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
156
3.6%
+3.1pp
Greek
2021 count
135
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-
135
3.1%
-
Chinese
2021 count
56
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
56
1.3%
-
Indian
2021 count
45
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
45
1.0%
-
Polish
2021 count
43
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
43
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+409
-2.0pp
Australian
+183
-7.1pp
Irish
+196
+2.8pp
Scottish
+168
+1.9pp
German
+102
+0.4pp
Italian
+146
+3.1pp
Dutch
+33
+0.7pp
French
+11
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Millswood. 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 | 914 | 21.2% | 18.8% | 505 | 23.2% | 18.4% | +409 | -2.0pp |
| Australian | 681 | 15.8% | 14.7% | 498 | 22.9% | 14.7% | +183 | -7.1pp |
| Irish | 275 | 6.4% | 5.1% | 79 | 3.6% | 5.2% | +196 | +2.8pp |
| Scottish | 258 | 6.0% | 5.3% | 90 | 4.1% | 5.0% | +168 | +1.9pp |
| German | 187 | 4.3% | 4.0% | 85 | 3.9% | 3.8% | +102 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 156 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 10 | 0.5% | 3.0% | +146 | +3.1pp |
| Greek | 135 | 3.1% | 2.8% | - | - | 2.7% | - | - |
| Chinese | 56 | 1.3% | 3.0% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| Indian | 45 | 1.0% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Polish | 43 | 1.0% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Total | 4,317 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,178 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,139 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).