Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 spoken at home for Bathurst in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bathurst Regional (A) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bathurst, with comparison markers for Bathurst Regional (A).
English
Not stated
Nepali
Punjabi
Urdu
Tagalog
Vietnamese
Thai
Bengali
Hindi
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 spoken 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.