Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Canley Vale, accounting for 38.4% (3,946 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (21.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 319 people and 2.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Canley Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Canley Vale 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 Canley Vale, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
English
Cantonese
Not stated
Mandarin
Khmer
Arabic
Min Nan
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Spanish
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+319
+2.9pp
English
-22
-0.3pp
Cantonese
-92
-1.0pp
Not stated
+178
+1.7pp
Mandarin
-7
-0.1pp
Khmer
-25
-0.3pp
Arabic
+27
+0.2pp
Min Nan
-30
-0.3pp
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
+66
+0.7pp
Spanish
-56
-0.5pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Canley Vale. 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 | 3,946 | 38.4% | 21.1% | 3,627 | 35.5% | 20.4% | +319 | +2.9pp |
| English | 1,647 | 16.0% | 23.4% | 1,669 | 16.3% | 24.8% | -22 | -0.3pp |
| Cantonese | 924 | 9.0% | 3.7% | 1,016 | 10.0% | 4.3% | -92 | -1.0pp |
| Not stated | 675 | 6.6% | 6.9% | 497 | 4.9% | 4.4% | +178 | +1.7pp |
| Mandarin | 482 | 4.7% | 2.3% | 489 | 4.8% | 2.5% | -7 | -0.1pp |
| Khmer | 476 | 4.6% | 3.3% | 501 | 4.9% | 3.6% | -25 | -0.3pp |
| Arabic | 391 | 3.8% | 9.3% | 364 | 3.6% | 7.9% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Min Nan | 265 | 2.6% | 1.1% | 295 | 2.9% | 1.2% | -30 | -0.3pp |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | 202 | 2.0% | 7.8% | 136 | 1.3% | 6.7% | +66 | +0.7pp |
| Spanish | 151 | 1.5% | 2.3% | 207 | 2.0% | 3.1% | -56 | -0.5pp |
| Total | 10,289 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,210 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +79 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.