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 Unley Park were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Unley Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Unley Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Unley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unley Park, with comparison markers for Unley (C).
English
2021 count
565
% of total
40.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
565
40.9%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
385
% of total
27.8%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
385
27.8%
-3.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
155
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
155
11.2%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
141
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
141
10.2%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
141
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
141
10.2%
+1.4pp
Greek
2021 count
110
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
110
8.0%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
85
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
85
6.1%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
62
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
62
4.5%
+1.0pp
Indian
2021 count
33
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
33
2.4%
+0.9pp
Cypriot
2021 count
18
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18
1.3%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
+1.5pp
Australian
-71
-3.8pp
Scottish
+6
+0.9pp
Irish
-3
+0.2pp
German
+14
+1.4pp
Greek
+11
+1.1pp
Italian
-3
0.0pp
Chinese
+12
+1.0pp
Indian
+11
+0.9pp
Cypriot
+4
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Unley Park. 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 | 565 | 40.9% | 37.5% | 569 | 39.4% | 36.9% | -4 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 385 | 27.8% | 29.5% | 456 | 31.6% | 29.3% | -71 | -3.8pp |
| Scottish | 155 | 11.2% | 10.7% | 149 | 10.3% | 10.1% | +6 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 141 | 10.2% | 10.1% | 144 | 10.0% | 10.3% | -3 | +0.2pp |
| German | 141 | 10.2% | 7.9% | 127 | 8.8% | 7.7% | +14 | +1.4pp |
| Greek | 110 | 8.0% | 5.5% | 99 | 6.9% | 5.4% | +11 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 85 | 6.1% | 6.5% | 88 | 6.1% | 6.1% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 62 | 4.5% | 5.9% | 50 | 3.5% | 6.0% | +12 | +1.0pp |
| Indian | 33 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 22 | 1.5% | 2.4% | +11 | +0.9pp |
| Cypriot | 18 | 1.3% | 0.5% | 14 | 1.0% | 0.3% | +4 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).