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, Arabic was the most common language used at home among residents in Old Guildford, accounting for 41.1% (1,166 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (9.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Arabic, which decreased by 67 people and 5.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Old Guildford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Old Guildford 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 Old Guildford, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Arabic
English
Not stated
Cantonese
Mandarin
Vietnamese
Dari
Hazaraghi
Turkish
Urdu
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Arabic
-67
-5.1pp
English
+23
-0.7pp
Not stated
+168
+5.6pp
Cantonese
+11
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+27
+0.8pp
Vietnamese
-1
-0.1pp
Dari
+20
+0.7pp
Hazaraghi
+27
+0.9pp
Turkish
-6
-0.3pp
Urdu
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Old Guildford. 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 | |
| Arabic | 1,166 | 41.1% | 9.3% | 1,233 | 46.2% | 7.9% | -67 | -5.1pp |
| English | 718 | 25.3% | 23.4% | 695 | 26.0% | 24.8% | +23 | -0.7pp |
| Not stated | 303 | 10.7% | 6.9% | 135 | 5.1% | 4.4% | +168 | +5.6pp |
| Cantonese | 80 | 2.8% | 3.7% | 69 | 2.6% | 4.3% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 69 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 42 | 1.6% | 2.5% | +27 | +0.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 64 | 2.3% | 21.1% | 65 | 2.4% | 20.4% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Dari | 50 | 1.8% | 0.1% | 30 | 1.1% | 0.1% | +20 | +0.7pp |
| Hazaraghi | 41 | 1.4% | 0.2% | 14 | 0.5% | 0.1% | +27 | +0.9pp |
| Turkish | 40 | 1.4% | 0.5% | 46 | 1.7% | 0.6% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| Urdu | 36 | 1.3% | 0.2% | 31 | 1.2% | 0.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 2,836 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,668 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +168 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.