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 Howes Creek were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Howes Creek - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Howes Creek in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mansfield (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Howes Creek, with comparison markers for Mansfield (S).
Australian
2021 count
30
% of total
44.8%
Change from 2016
-8.1pp
30
44.8%
-8.1pp
English
2021 count
29
% of total
43.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
29
43.3%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
11
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
11
16.4%
+3.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-7
-8.1pp
English
-1
+0.4pp
Irish
+2
+3.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Howes Creek. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mansfield (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mansfield (S)% | Count | % | Mansfield (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 30 | 44.8% | 39.1% | 37 | 52.9% | 39.9% | -7 | -8.1pp |
| English | 29 | 43.3% | 42.2% | 30 | 42.9% | 41.7% | -1 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 11 | 16.4% | 14.3% | 9 | 12.9% | 14.6% | +2 | +3.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).