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, Vietnamese was the most common language used at home among residents in Cabramatta, accounting for 43.2% (9,144 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (21.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 420 people and 3.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Cabramatta - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Cabramatta in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cabramatta, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
9,144
% of total
43.2%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
9,144
43.2%
+3.1pp
English
2021 count
2,695
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,695
12.7%
+0.3pp
Cantonese
2021 count
2,077
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
2,077
9.8%
-1.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,571
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
1,571
7.4%
+2.7pp
Khmer
2021 count
1,519
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,519
7.2%
-0.9pp
Mandarin
2021 count
1,034
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,034
4.9%
-0.1pp
Min Nan
2021 count
447
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
447
2.1%
-0.1pp
Thai
2021 count
358
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
358
1.7%
+0.3pp
Serbian
2021 count
302
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
302
1.4%
-0.6pp
Arabic
2021 count
219
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
219
1.0%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+420
+3.1pp
English
+4
+0.3pp
Cantonese
-309
-1.2pp
Not stated
+543
+2.7pp
Khmer
-247
-0.9pp
Mandarin
-46
-0.1pp
Min Nan
-27
-0.1pp
Thai
+49
+0.3pp
Serbian
-136
-0.6pp
Arabic
-43
-0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Cabramatta. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 9,144 | 43.2% | 21.1% | 8,724 | 40.1% | 20.4% | +420 | +3.1pp |
| English | 2,695 | 12.7% | 23.4% | 2,691 | 12.4% | 24.8% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| Cantonese | 2,077 | 9.8% | 3.7% | 2,386 | 11.0% | 4.3% | -309 | -1.2pp |
| Not stated | 1,571 | 7.4% | 6.9% | 1,028 | 4.7% | 4.4% | +543 | +2.7pp |
| Khmer | 1,519 | 7.2% | 3.3% | 1,766 | 8.1% | 3.6% | -247 | -0.9pp |
| Mandarin | 1,034 | 4.9% | 2.3% | 1,080 | 5.0% | 2.5% | -46 | -0.1pp |
| Min Nan | 447 | 2.1% | 1.1% | 474 | 2.2% | 1.2% | -27 | -0.1pp |
| Thai | 358 | 1.7% | 0.5% | 309 | 1.4% | 0.5% | +49 | +0.3pp |
| Serbian | 302 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 438 | 2.0% | 1.9% | -136 | -0.6pp |
| Arabic | 219 | 1.0% | 9.3% | 262 | 1.2% | 7.9% | -43 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 21,150 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,761 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -611 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.