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 Fairfield East, accounting for 24.6% (1,281 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (21.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Arabic, which decreased by 71 people and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Fairfield East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Fairfield East 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 Fairfield East, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
English
Arabic
Not stated
Cantonese
Mandarin
Karen
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Spanish
Khmer
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
-13
+0.1pp
English
+51
+1.2pp
Arabic
-71
-1.2pp
Not stated
+54
+1.1pp
Cantonese
-14
-0.3pp
Mandarin
-46
-0.9pp
Karen
+2
+0.1pp
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
+1
0.0pp
Spanish
-30
-0.6pp
Khmer
-8
-0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Fairfield East. 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 | 1,281 | 24.6% | 21.1% | 1,294 | 24.5% | 20.4% | -13 | +0.1pp |
| English | 1,065 | 20.4% | 23.4% | 1,014 | 19.2% | 24.8% | +51 | +1.2pp |
| Arabic | 851 | 16.3% | 9.3% | 922 | 17.5% | 7.9% | -71 | -1.2pp |
| Not stated | 464 | 8.9% | 6.9% | 410 | 7.8% | 4.4% | +54 | +1.1pp |
| Cantonese | 226 | 4.3% | 3.7% | 240 | 4.6% | 4.3% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| Mandarin | 137 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 183 | 3.5% | 2.5% | -46 | -0.9pp |
| Karen | 120 | 2.3% | 0.1% | 118 | 2.2% | 0.2% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | 111 | 2.1% | 7.8% | 110 | 2.1% | 6.7% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 96 | 1.8% | 2.3% | 126 | 2.4% | 3.1% | -30 | -0.6pp |
| Khmer | 57 | 1.1% | 3.3% | 65 | 1.2% | 3.6% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 5,212 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,272 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -60 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.