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, Vietnamese was the most common language used at home among residents in Canley Heights, accounting for 42.1% (5,183 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (21.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 885 people and 2.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Canley Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Canley Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Canley Heights, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
English
Not stated
Cantonese
Khmer
Arabic
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Min Nan
Mandarin
Spanish
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+885
+2.9pp
English
0
-2.2pp
Not stated
+436
+3.2pp
Cantonese
-56
-1.2pp
Khmer
-27
-0.9pp
Arabic
+114
+0.6pp
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
+149
+1.0pp
Min Nan
+10
-0.2pp
Mandarin
-33
-0.6pp
Spanish
-59
-0.7pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Canley Heights. 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 | 5,183 | 42.1% | 21.1% | 4,298 | 39.2% | 20.4% | +885 | +2.9pp |
| English | 2,201 | 17.9% | 23.4% | 2,201 | 20.1% | 24.8% | 0 | -2.2pp |
| Not stated | 822 | 6.7% | 6.9% | 386 | 3.5% | 4.4% | +436 | +3.2pp |
| Cantonese | 679 | 5.5% | 3.7% | 735 | 6.7% | 4.3% | -56 | -1.2pp |
| Khmer | 663 | 5.4% | 3.3% | 690 | 6.3% | 3.6% | -27 | -0.9pp |
| Arabic | 416 | 3.4% | 9.3% | 302 | 2.8% | 7.9% | +114 | +0.6pp |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | 338 | 2.7% | 7.8% | 189 | 1.7% | 6.7% | +149 | +1.0pp |
| Min Nan | 331 | 2.7% | 1.1% | 321 | 2.9% | 1.2% | +10 | -0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 304 | 2.5% | 2.3% | 337 | 3.1% | 2.5% | -33 | -0.6pp |
| Spanish | 141 | 1.1% | 2.3% | 200 | 1.8% | 3.1% | -59 | -0.7pp |
| Total | 12,311 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,975 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,336 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.