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 Griffith (C), accounting for 69% (18,662 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 803 people, while its share fell by 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Griffith (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Griffith (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Griffith (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
18,662
% of total
69.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
18,662
69.0%
-0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
2,149
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
2,149
7.9%
-1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
1,339
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,339
5.0%
-2.5pp
Punjabi
2021 count
1,007
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,007
3.7%
+0.6pp
Gujarati
2021 count
947
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
947
3.5%
+2.6pp
Samoan
2021 count
326
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
326
1.2%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
266
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
266
1.0%
+0.1pp
Malay
2021 count
183
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
183
0.7%
+0.6pp
Tagalog
2021 count
172
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
172
0.6%
+0.2pp
Tongan
2021 count
172
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
172
0.6%
-0.1pp
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+803
-0.6pp
Not stated
-280
-1.6pp
Italian
-583
-2.5pp
Punjabi
+215
+0.6pp
Gujarati
+718
+2.6pp
Samoan
+76
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+39
+0.1pp
Malay
+147
+0.6pp
Tagalog
+74
+0.2pp
Tongan
-13
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Griffith (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 18,662 | 69.0% | 86.8% | 17,859 | 69.6% | 87.1% | +803 | -0.6pp |
| Not stated | 2,149 | 7.9% | 6.6% | 2,429 | 9.5% | 7.1% | -280 | -1.6pp |
| Italian | 1,339 | 5.0% | 0.4% | 1,922 | 7.5% | 0.5% | -583 | -2.5pp |
| Punjabi | 1,007 | 3.7% | 0.3% | 792 | 3.1% | 0.2% | +215 | +0.6pp |
| Gujarati | 947 | 3.5% | 0.1% | 229 | 0.9% | 0.0% | +718 | +2.6pp |
| Samoan | 326 | 1.2% | 0.0% | 250 | 1.0% | 0.0% | +76 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 266 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 227 | 0.9% | 0.4% | +39 | +0.1pp |
| Malay | 183 | 0.7% | 0.0% | 36 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +147 | +0.6pp |
| Tagalog | 172 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 98 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +74 | +0.2pp |
| Tongan | 172 | 0.6% | 0.0% | 185 | 0.7% | 0.0% | -13 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 27,050 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 25,655 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,395 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.