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 Marys (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
St Marys (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for St Marys (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for St Marys (SA), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
928
% of total
30.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
928
30.8%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
823
% of total
27.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
823
27.3%
+2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
247
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
247
8.2%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
200
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
200
6.6%
-1.6pp
Indian
2021 count
194
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
194
6.4%
+1.1pp
German
2021 count
180
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
180
6.0%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
134
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
134
4.5%
+0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
130
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
130
4.3%
-0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
126
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
126
4.2%
-0.9pp
Nepalese
2021 count
98
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
98
3.3%
+2.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+74
-0.2pp
Australian
+144
+2.7pp
Scottish
+42
+0.8pp
Irish
-26
-1.6pp
Indian
+48
+1.1pp
German
+13
-0.1pp
Italian
+22
+0.4pp
Greek
-14
-0.9pp
Chinese
-15
-0.9pp
Nepalese
+81
+2.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for St Marys (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 928 | 30.8% | 42.1% | 854 | 31.0% | 41.5% | +74 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 823 | 27.3% | 33.7% | 679 | 24.6% | 33.3% | +144 | +2.7pp |
| Scottish | 247 | 8.2% | 10.6% | 205 | 7.4% | 10.2% | +42 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 200 | 6.6% | 9.5% | 226 | 8.2% | 10.0% | -26 | -1.6pp |
| Indian | 194 | 6.4% | 1.9% | 146 | 5.3% | 1.6% | +48 | +1.1pp |
| German | 180 | 6.0% | 8.3% | 167 | 6.1% | 8.1% | +13 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 134 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 112 | 4.1% | 4.0% | +22 | +0.4pp |
| Greek | 130 | 4.3% | 3.5% | 144 | 5.2% | 3.5% | -14 | -0.9pp |
| Chinese | 126 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 141 | 5.1% | 4.0% | -15 | -0.9pp |
| Nepalese | 98 | 3.3% | 0.6% | 17 | 0.6% | 0.2% | +81 | +2.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).