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 Howrah, accounting for 88.9% (8,466 people). This share was higher than Clarence (C) (86.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 593 people, while its share fell by 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Howrah - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Howrah in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Clarence (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Howrah, with comparison markers for Clarence (C).
English
Not stated
Mandarin
Greek
Nepali
Punjabi
Cantonese
German
Vietnamese
Sinhalese
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+593
-1.7pp
Not stated
-152
-2.0pp
Mandarin
+120
+1.3pp
Greek
+1
-0.1pp
Nepali
+78
+0.9pp
Punjabi
+66
+0.7pp
Cantonese
+14
+0.2pp
German
-1
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
+13
+0.2pp
Sinhalese
+13
+0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Howrah. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Clarence (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Clarence (C)% | Count | % | Clarence (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,466 | 88.9% | 86.9% | 7,873 | 90.6% | 90.3% | +593 | -1.7pp |
| Not stated | 221 | 2.3% | 4.8% | 373 | 4.3% | 5.7% | -152 | -2.0pp |
| Mandarin | 159 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 39 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +120 | +1.3pp |
| Greek | 99 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 98 | 1.1% | 0.4% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Nepali | 81 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +78 | +0.9pp |
| Punjabi | 77 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 11 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +66 | +0.7pp |
| Cantonese | 34 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 20 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +14 | +0.2pp |
| German | 31 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 32 | 0.4% | 0.3% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 24 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 11 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Sinhalese | 21 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 9,528 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,686 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +842 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.