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 Gunnedah (A), accounting for 88.2% (11,402 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 400 people, while its share fell by 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Gunnedah (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Gunnedah (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gunnedah (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
11,402
% of total
88.2%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
11,402
88.2%
-1.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,116
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,116
8.6%
+0.9pp
Tagalog
2021 count
41
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
41
0.3%
+0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
36
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
36
0.3%
0.0pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
33
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
33
0.3%
0.0pp
Gamilaraay
2021 count
23
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
23
0.2%
-
Fijian
2021 count
21
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
21
0.2%
-
Filipino
2021 count
18
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-
18
0.1%
-
Punjabi
2021 count
16
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
16
0.1%
+0.1pp
French
2021 count
12
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
12
0.1%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+400
-1.8pp
Not stated
+177
+0.9pp
Tagalog
+19
+0.1pp
Mandarin
-5
0.0pp
Afrikaans
+2
0.0pp
Punjabi
+13
+0.1pp
French
+7
+0.1pp
Spanish
+4
0.0pp
Vietnamese
+5
+0.1pp
Indonesian
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Gunnedah (A). 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 | 11,402 | 88.2% | 86.8% | 11,002 | 90.0% | 87.1% | +400 | -1.8pp |
| Not stated | 1,116 | 8.6% | 6.6% | 939 | 7.7% | 7.1% | +177 | +0.9pp |
| Tagalog | 41 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 22 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 36 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 41 | 0.3% | 0.4% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Afrikaans | 33 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 31 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Gamilaraay | 23 | 0.2% | 0.0% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Fijian | 21 | 0.2% | 0.0% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Filipino | 18 | 0.1% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Punjabi | 16 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| French | 12 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 12,923 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,221 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +702 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.