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 Whalan, accounting for 61.4% (3,628 people). This share was higher than Blacktown (C) (47.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 271 people and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Whalan - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Whalan in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whalan, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
English
Not stated
Samoan
Arabic
Tagalog
Hindi
Tongan
Urdu
Bengali
Filipino
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-271
-4.2pp
Not stated
+104
+1.8pp
Samoan
-12
-0.2pp
Arabic
+61
+1.0pp
Tagalog
+20
+0.4pp
Hindi
-26
-0.4pp
Tongan
+15
+0.3pp
Urdu
+30
+0.6pp
Bengali
+43
+0.8pp
Filipino
+8
+0.2pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Whalan. 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 | 3,628 | 61.4% | 47.6% | 3,899 | 65.6% | 53.7% | -271 | -4.2pp |
| Not stated | 669 | 11.3% | 6.1% | 565 | 9.5% | 5.3% | +104 | +1.8pp |
| Samoan | 241 | 4.1% | 1.0% | 253 | 4.3% | 1.1% | -12 | -0.2pp |
| Arabic | 219 | 3.7% | 2.9% | 158 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +61 | +1.0pp |
| Tagalog | 127 | 2.2% | 3.8% | 107 | 1.8% | 4.0% | +20 | +0.4pp |
| Hindi | 112 | 1.9% | 4.4% | 138 | 2.3% | 4.0% | -26 | -0.4pp |
| Tongan | 105 | 1.8% | 0.6% | 90 | 1.5% | 0.6% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Urdu | 80 | 1.4% | 2.2% | 50 | 0.8% | 1.6% | +30 | +0.6pp |
| Bengali | 75 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 32 | 0.5% | 1.0% | +43 | +0.8pp |
| Filipino | 58 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 50 | 0.8% | 1.9% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 5,906 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,944 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -38 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.