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 North St Marys were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
North St Marys - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for North St Marys in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North St Marys, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,203
% of total
14.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,203
14.6%
-0.3pp
English
2021 count
1,175
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,175
14.3%
-1.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
413
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
413
5.0%
+4.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
235
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
235
2.9%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
220
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
220
2.7%
-2.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
158
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
158
1.9%
+1.7pp
Samoan
2021 count
133
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
133
1.6%
+1.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
104
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
104
1.3%
+1.1pp
German
2021 count
94
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
94
1.1%
-1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
93
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
93
1.1%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+435
-0.3pp
English
+367
-1.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+410
+4.9pp
Scottish
+19
-1.3pp
Irish
-61
-2.7pp
Filipino
+146
+1.7pp
Samoan
+129
+1.5pp
Maltese
+92
+1.1pp
German
-23
-1.2pp
Italian
-88
-2.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for North St Marys. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,203 | 14.6% | 16.6% | 768 | 14.9% | 17.9% | +435 | -0.3pp |
| English | 1,175 | 14.3% | 15.1% | 808 | 15.7% | 16.6% | +367 | -1.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 413 | 5.0% | 2.3% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +410 | +4.9pp |
| Scottish | 235 | 2.9% | 3.4% | 216 | 4.2% | 3.7% | +19 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 220 | 2.7% | 4.1% | 281 | 5.4% | 4.9% | -61 | -2.7pp |
| Filipino | 158 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 12 | 0.2% | 1.4% | +146 | +1.7pp |
| Samoan | 133 | 1.6% | 0.6% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.5% | +129 | +1.5pp |
| Maltese | 104 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 12 | 0.2% | 1.9% | +92 | +1.1pp |
| German | 94 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 117 | 2.3% | 1.7% | -23 | -1.2pp |
| Italian | 93 | 1.1% | 1.9% | 181 | 3.5% | 1.8% | -88 | -2.4pp |
| Total | 8,229 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,159 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,070 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).