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 Mullaquana (part) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mullaquana (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mullaquana (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mullaquana (part), with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
Australian
2021 count
116
% of total
42.6%
Change from 2016
-14.7pp
116
42.6%
-14.7pp
English
2021 count
99
% of total
36.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
99
36.4%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
19
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-
19
7.0%
-
German
2021 count
19
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
19
7.0%
+1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
18
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
18
6.6%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
15
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
15
5.5%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-26
-14.7pp
English
+8
-0.3pp
German
+6
+1.8pp
Scottish
+4
+1.0pp
Irish
-2
-1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mullaquana (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whyalla (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whyalla (C)% | Count | % | Whyalla (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 116 | 42.6% | 39.2% | 142 | 57.3% | 41.3% | -26 | -14.7pp |
| English | 99 | 36.4% | 41.7% | 91 | 36.7% | 41.3% | +8 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 19 | 7.0% | 5.1% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| German | 19 | 7.0% | 7.0% | 13 | 5.2% | 6.8% | +6 | +1.8pp |
| Scottish | 18 | 6.6% | 10.8% | 14 | 5.6% | 10.9% | +4 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 15 | 5.5% | 7.3% | 17 | 6.9% | 7.7% | -2 | -1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).