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, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Greater Dandenong (C), accounting for 29.3% (46,362 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (61.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 1,710 people and 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Greater Dandenong (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Greater Dandenong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Dandenong (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
46,362
% of total
29.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
46,362
29.3%
-0.5pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
18,784
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
18,784
11.9%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
9,994
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
9,994
6.3%
+0.6pp
Khmer
2021 count
9,663
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
9,663
6.1%
+0.9pp
Mandarin
2021 count
6,201
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
6,201
3.9%
+0.3pp
Punjabi
2021 count
5,399
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
5,399
3.4%
-0.5pp
Cantonese
2021 count
4,410
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,410
2.8%
-0.2pp
Hazaraghi
2021 count
4,029
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
4,029
2.5%
+0.4pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
3,907
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,907
2.5%
+0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
3,509
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,509
2.2%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,008
-0.5pp
Vietnamese
+1,710
+0.7pp
Not stated
+1,316
+0.6pp
Khmer
+1,689
+0.9pp
Mandarin
+778
+0.3pp
Punjabi
-459
-0.5pp
Cantonese
-96
-0.2pp
Hazaraghi
+889
+0.4pp
Sinhalese
+402
+0.2pp
Greek
-117
-0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Greater Dandenong (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| English | 46,362 | 29.3% | 61.1% | 45,354 | 29.8% | 62.0% | +1,008 | -0.5pp |
| Vietnamese | 18,784 | 11.9% | 2.3% | 17,074 | 11.2% | 2.3% | +1,710 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 9,994 | 6.3% | 4.8% | 8,678 | 5.7% | 5.6% | +1,316 | +0.6pp |
| Khmer | 9,663 | 6.1% | 0.3% | 7,974 | 5.2% | 0.3% | +1,689 | +0.9pp |
| Mandarin | 6,201 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 5,423 | 3.6% | 4.1% | +778 | +0.3pp |
| Punjabi | 5,399 | 3.4% | 2.0% | 5,858 | 3.9% | 1.2% | -459 | -0.5pp |
| Cantonese | 4,410 | 2.8% | 1.6% | 4,506 | 3.0% | 1.7% | -96 | -0.2pp |
| Hazaraghi | 4,029 | 2.5% | 0.4% | 3,140 | 2.1% | 0.2% | +889 | +0.4pp |
| Sinhalese | 3,907 | 2.5% | 1.0% | 3,505 | 2.3% | 0.8% | +402 | +0.2pp |
| Greek | 3,509 | 2.2% | 2.1% | 3,626 | 2.4% | 2.4% | -117 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 158,186 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 152,021 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,165 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.