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 Myrtle Bank (SA) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Myrtle Bank (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Myrtle Bank (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Unley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Myrtle Bank (SA), with comparison markers for Unley (C).
English
2021 count
1,186
% of total
37.6%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
1,186
37.6%
-4.0pp
Australian
2021 count
915
% of total
29.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
915
29.0%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
354
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
354
11.2%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
334
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
334
10.6%
-1.0pp
German
2021 count
263
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
263
8.3%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
235
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
235
7.4%
+2.0pp
Italian
2021 count
147
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
147
4.7%
+0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
85
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
85
2.7%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
76
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
76
2.4%
-0.2pp
Polish
2021 count
36
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
36
1.1%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-14
-4.0pp
Australian
+31
-1.7pp
Irish
+14
-0.6pp
Scottish
-1
-1.0pp
German
+28
+0.1pp
Chinese
+79
+2.0pp
Italian
+33
+0.7pp
Greek
+1
-0.2pp
Indian
+2
-0.2pp
Polish
+7
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Myrtle Bank (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 | 1,186 | 37.6% | 37.5% | 1,200 | 41.6% | 36.9% | -14 | -4.0pp |
| Australian | 915 | 29.0% | 29.5% | 884 | 30.7% | 29.3% | +31 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 354 | 11.2% | 10.1% | 340 | 11.8% | 10.3% | +14 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 334 | 10.6% | 10.7% | 335 | 11.6% | 10.1% | -1 | -1.0pp |
| German | 263 | 8.3% | 7.9% | 235 | 8.2% | 7.7% | +28 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 235 | 7.4% | 5.9% | 156 | 5.4% | 6.0% | +79 | +2.0pp |
| Italian | 147 | 4.7% | 6.5% | 114 | 4.0% | 6.1% | +33 | +0.7pp |
| Greek | 85 | 2.7% | 5.5% | 84 | 2.9% | 5.4% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 76 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 74 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| Polish | 36 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 29 | 1.0% | 1.2% | +7 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).