Cultural diversity
Language used at home
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 Bathurst, accounting for 82.9% (5,795 people). This share was lower than Bathurst Regional (A) (87.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Nepali, which increased by 72 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bathurst - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Bathurst in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bathurst Regional (A) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bathurst, with comparison markers for Bathurst Regional (A).
English
2021 count
5,795
% of total
82.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
5,795
82.9%
-0.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
404
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
404
5.8%
-3.2pp
Nepali
2021 count
102
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
102
1.5%
+1.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
97
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
97
1.4%
+0.9pp
Urdu
2021 count
58
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
58
0.8%
+0.6pp
Tagalog
2021 count
39
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
39
0.6%
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
35
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
35
0.5%
+0.2pp
Thai
2021 count
33
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
33
0.5%
+0.2pp
Bengali
2021 count
32
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
32
0.5%
+0.3pp
Hindi
2021 count
32
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
32
0.5%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+41
-0.3pp
Not stated
-221
-3.2pp
Nepali
+72
+1.1pp
Punjabi
+65
+0.9pp
Urdu
+47
+0.6pp
Tagalog
+20
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
+11
+0.2pp
Thai
+14
+0.2pp
Bengali
+15
+0.3pp
Hindi
+17
+0.3pp
Data table
Language used at home for Bathurst. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bathurst Regional (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Bathurst Regional (A)% | Count | % | Bathurst Regional (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,795 | 82.9% | 87.7% | 5,754 | 83.2% | 86.9% | +41 | -0.3pp |
| Not stated | 404 | 5.8% | 6.9% | 625 | 9.0% | 9.0% | -221 | -3.2pp |
| Nepali | 102 | 1.5% | 0.4% | 30 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +72 | +1.1pp |
| Punjabi | 97 | 1.4% | 0.4% | 32 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +65 | +0.9pp |
| Urdu | 58 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +47 | +0.6pp |
| Tagalog | 39 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 19 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +20 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 35 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 24 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Thai | 33 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 19 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +14 | +0.2pp |
| Bengali | 32 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 17 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Hindi | 32 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 15 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +17 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 6,993 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,913 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +80 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.