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 Wayville were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wayville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wayville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Unley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wayville, with comparison markers for Unley (C).
English
2021 count
685
% of total
35.6%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
685
35.6%
+2.2pp
Australian
2021 count
563
% of total
29.3%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
563
29.3%
+6.0pp
Irish
2021 count
198
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
198
10.3%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
187
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
187
9.7%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
143
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
143
7.4%
-0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
107
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-5.7pp
107
5.6%
-5.7pp
Italian
2021 count
89
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
89
4.6%
+0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
84
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
84
4.4%
+1.2pp
Indian
2021 count
84
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
84
4.4%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
31
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
31
1.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+72
+2.2pp
Australian
+136
+6.0pp
Irish
+13
+0.2pp
Scottish
+9
0.0pp
German
+2
-0.3pp
Chinese
-100
-5.7pp
Italian
+12
+0.4pp
Greek
+26
+1.2pp
Indian
+15
+0.6pp
Dutch
+6
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wayville. 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 | 685 | 35.6% | 37.5% | 613 | 33.4% | 36.9% | +72 | +2.2pp |
| Australian | 563 | 29.3% | 29.5% | 427 | 23.3% | 29.3% | +136 | +6.0pp |
| Irish | 198 | 10.3% | 10.1% | 185 | 10.1% | 10.3% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 187 | 9.7% | 10.7% | 178 | 9.7% | 10.1% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| German | 143 | 7.4% | 7.9% | 141 | 7.7% | 7.7% | +2 | -0.3pp |
| Chinese | 107 | 5.6% | 5.9% | 207 | 11.3% | 6.0% | -100 | -5.7pp |
| Italian | 89 | 4.6% | 6.5% | 77 | 4.2% | 6.1% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| Greek | 84 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 58 | 3.2% | 5.4% | +26 | +1.2pp |
| Indian | 84 | 4.4% | 2.6% | 69 | 3.8% | 2.4% | +15 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 31 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 25 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +6 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).