Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
About this topic
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
This topic is useful for planning communication, multicultural services, and local engagement. It should be analysed together with proficiency in English and birthplace, because language alone does not show migration history or support needs.
Interpretation notes
- The Census records the language used most often at home, so it does not capture every language a person can speak.
- Language used at home is not a measure of English proficiency, literacy, or migration history on its own.
Key insight
In 2021, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Tennant Creek, accounting for 53.3% (1,630 people). This share was higher than Barkly (R) (41.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Australian Indigenous Languages, nfd, which decreased by 148 people and 5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Tennant Creek - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Tennant Creek in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Barkly (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tennant Creek, with comparison markers for Barkly (R).
English
Not stated
Warumungu
Alyawarr
Warlpiri
Warlmanpa
Malayalam
Tagalog
Nepali
Filipino
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+21
-0.6pp
Not stated
-40
-1.6pp
Warumungu
+82
+2.5pp
Alyawarr
+103
+3.3pp
Warlpiri
+21
+0.5pp
Warlmanpa
+21
+0.6pp
Malayalam
+4
+0.1pp
Tagalog
+8
+0.2pp
Nepali
+16
+0.5pp
Filipino
-7
-0.2pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Tennant Creek. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Barkly (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Barkly (R)% | Count | % | Barkly (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,630 | 53.3% | 41.2% | 1,609 | 53.9% | 40.0% | +21 | -0.6pp |
| Not stated | 373 | 12.2% | 8.9% | 413 | 13.8% | 10.4% | -40 | -1.6pp |
| Warumungu | 316 | 10.3% | 5.5% | 234 | 7.8% | 4.4% | +82 | +2.5pp |
| Alyawarr | 159 | 5.2% | 27.4% | 56 | 1.9% | 21.2% | +103 | +3.3pp |
| Warlpiri | 136 | 4.4% | 4.7% | 115 | 3.9% | 3.9% | +21 | +0.5pp |
| Warlmanpa | 38 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 17 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +21 | +0.6pp |
| Malayalam | 37 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 33 | 1.1% | 0.5% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 29 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 21 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Nepali | 27 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 11 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +16 | +0.5pp |
| Filipino | 23 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 30 | 1.0% | 0.5% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 3,058 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,984 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +74 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.