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 Brimbank (C), accounting for 36.3% (70,661 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (61.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 4,566 people and 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Brimbank (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Brimbank (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brimbank (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
70,661
% of total
36.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
70,661
36.3%
+0.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
36,020
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
36,020
18.5%
+2.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
12,534
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
12,534
6.4%
+0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
4,613
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
4,613
2.4%
-0.3pp
Punjabi
2021 count
4,370
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
4,370
2.2%
-0.7pp
Arabic
2021 count
4,285
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,285
2.2%
0.0pp
Macedonian
2021 count
4,237
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,237
2.2%
-0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
4,061
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
4,061
2.1%
-0.5pp
Cantonese
2021 count
4,025
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,025
2.1%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
3,868
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
3,868
2.0%
-0.5pp
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,358
+0.6pp
Vietnamese
+4,566
+2.3pp
Not stated
+976
+0.5pp
Greek
-678
-0.3pp
Punjabi
-1,267
-0.7pp
Arabic
0
0.0pp
Macedonian
-394
-0.2pp
Maltese
-995
-0.5pp
Cantonese
-141
0.0pp
Italian
-1,037
-0.5pp
Data table
Language used at home for Brimbank (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| English | 70,661 | 36.3% | 61.1% | 69,303 | 35.7% | 62.0% | +1,358 | +0.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 36,020 | 18.5% | 2.3% | 31,454 | 16.2% | 2.3% | +4,566 | +2.3pp |
| Not stated | 12,534 | 6.4% | 4.8% | 11,558 | 5.9% | 5.6% | +976 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 4,613 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 5,291 | 2.7% | 2.4% | -678 | -0.3pp |
| Punjabi | 4,370 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 5,637 | 2.9% | 1.2% | -1,267 | -0.7pp |
| Arabic | 4,285 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 4,285 | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Macedonian | 4,237 | 2.2% | 0.6% | 4,631 | 2.4% | 0.6% | -394 | -0.2pp |
| Maltese | 4,061 | 2.1% | 0.3% | 5,056 | 2.6% | 0.4% | -995 | -0.5pp |
| Cantonese | 4,025 | 2.1% | 1.6% | 4,166 | 2.1% | 1.7% | -141 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 3,868 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 4,905 | 2.5% | 2.3% | -1,037 | -0.5pp |
| Total | 194,586 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 194,348 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +238 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.