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 Riverstone, accounting for 66.4% (5,705 people). This share was higher than Blacktown (C) (47.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 1,108 people, while its share fell by 11.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Riverstone - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Riverstone in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Riverstone, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
English
2021 count
5,705
% of total
66.4%
Change from 2016
-11.8pp
5,705
66.4%
-11.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
483
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
483
5.6%
-1.4pp
Punjabi
2021 count
244
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
244
2.8%
+1.5pp
Nepali
2021 count
221
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
221
2.6%
+2.5pp
Urdu
2021 count
196
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
196
2.3%
+1.8pp
Hindi
2021 count
151
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
151
1.8%
+0.9pp
Tagalog
2021 count
135
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
135
1.6%
+0.7pp
Mandarin
2021 count
108
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
108
1.3%
+0.5pp
Gujarati
2021 count
95
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
95
1.1%
+0.9pp
Arabic
2021 count
89
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
89
1.0%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,108
-11.8pp
Not stated
+73
-1.4pp
Punjabi
+169
+1.5pp
Nepali
+213
+2.5pp
Urdu
+168
+1.8pp
Hindi
+98
+0.9pp
Tagalog
+84
+0.7pp
Mandarin
+60
+0.5pp
Gujarati
+84
+0.9pp
Arabic
+39
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Riverstone. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,705 | 66.4% | 47.6% | 4,597 | 78.2% | 53.7% | +1,108 | -11.8pp |
| Not stated | 483 | 5.6% | 6.1% | 410 | 7.0% | 5.3% | +73 | -1.4pp |
| Punjabi | 244 | 2.8% | 5.2% | 75 | 1.3% | 3.6% | +169 | +1.5pp |
| Nepali | 221 | 2.6% | 1.1% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.5% | +213 | +2.5pp |
| Urdu | 196 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 28 | 0.5% | 1.6% | +168 | +1.8pp |
| Hindi | 151 | 1.8% | 4.4% | 53 | 0.9% | 4.0% | +98 | +0.9pp |
| Tagalog | 135 | 1.6% | 3.8% | 51 | 0.9% | 4.0% | +84 | +0.7pp |
| Mandarin | 108 | 1.3% | 1.8% | 48 | 0.8% | 1.4% | +60 | +0.5pp |
| Gujarati | 95 | 1.1% | 2.4% | 11 | 0.2% | 1.4% | +84 | +0.9pp |
| Arabic | 89 | 1.0% | 2.9% | 50 | 0.9% | 3.0% | +39 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 8,591 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,876 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,715 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.