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, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Rowville, accounting for 66% (22,123 people). This share was lower than Knox (C) (68%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 651 people and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Rowville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Rowville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rowville, with comparison markers for Knox (C).
English
Mandarin
Cantonese
Not stated
Sinhalese
Greek
Arabic
Italian
Tamil
Hindi
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-651
-1.6pp
Mandarin
+534
+1.6pp
Cantonese
+52
+0.2pp
Not stated
-103
-0.3pp
Sinhalese
+139
+0.4pp
Greek
-69
-0.2pp
Arabic
-32
-0.1pp
Italian
-132
-0.4pp
Tamil
+90
+0.3pp
Hindi
-7
0.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Rowville. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 22,123 | 66.0% | 68.0% | 22,774 | 67.6% | 71.1% | -651 | -1.6pp |
| Mandarin | 2,247 | 6.7% | 7.3% | 1,713 | 5.1% | 5.2% | +534 | +1.6pp |
| Cantonese | 994 | 3.0% | 3.5% | 942 | 2.8% | 3.1% | +52 | +0.2pp |
| Not stated | 832 | 2.5% | 3.3% | 935 | 2.8% | 3.8% | -103 | -0.3pp |
| Sinhalese | 751 | 2.2% | 1.7% | 612 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +139 | +0.4pp |
| Greek | 550 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 619 | 1.8% | 1.2% | -69 | -0.2pp |
| Arabic | 514 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 546 | 1.6% | 0.7% | -32 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 499 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 631 | 1.9% | 1.2% | -132 | -0.4pp |
| Tamil | 435 | 1.3% | 0.9% | 345 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +90 | +0.3pp |
| Hindi | 360 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 367 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -7 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 33,538 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 33,672 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -134 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.