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 St Helena were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
St Helena - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for St Helena in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for St Helena, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
1,039
% of total
36.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,039
36.0%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
934
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
934
32.3%
-1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
376
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
376
13.0%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
340
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
340
11.8%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
287
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
287
9.9%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
98
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
98
3.4%
+0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
98
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
98
3.4%
+0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
93
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
93
3.2%
-0.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
76
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
76
2.6%
+0.4pp
Macedonian
2021 count
65
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
65
2.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-15
-0.1pp
Australian
-60
-1.7pp
Italian
-22
-0.6pp
Irish
-41
-1.2pp
Scottish
+20
+0.8pp
German
+13
+0.5pp
Chinese
+23
+0.8pp
Greek
-10
-0.3pp
Maltese
+11
+0.4pp
Macedonian
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for St Helena. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,039 | 36.0% | 31.3% | 1,054 | 36.1% | 31.6% | -15 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 934 | 32.3% | 29.1% | 994 | 34.0% | 29.0% | -60 | -1.7pp |
| Italian | 376 | 13.0% | 10.5% | 398 | 13.6% | 10.1% | -22 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 340 | 11.8% | 12.2% | 381 | 13.0% | 13.2% | -41 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 287 | 9.9% | 9.6% | 267 | 9.1% | 9.4% | +20 | +0.8pp |
| German | 98 | 3.4% | 3.3% | 85 | 2.9% | 3.5% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| Chinese | 98 | 3.4% | 7.0% | 75 | 2.6% | 6.0% | +23 | +0.8pp |
| Greek | 93 | 3.2% | 4.1% | 103 | 3.5% | 3.8% | -10 | -0.3pp |
| Maltese | 76 | 2.6% | 1.0% | 65 | 2.2% | 1.0% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Macedonian | 65 | 2.2% | 1.5% | 65 | 2.2% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).