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 Ku-ring-gai (A), accounting for 64.1% (79,470 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (57.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Mandarin, which increased by 5,953 people and 4.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Ku-ring-gai (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Ku-ring-gai (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ku-ring-gai (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
2021 count
79,470
% of total
64.1%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
79,470
64.1%
-4.6pp
Mandarin
2021 count
16,199
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
16,199
13.1%
+4.4pp
Cantonese
2021 count
6,860
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
6,860
5.5%
+0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,137
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,137
2.5%
-1.1pp
Korean
2021 count
3,100
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,100
2.5%
0.0pp
Persian (excluding Dari)
2021 count
1,578
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,578
1.3%
+0.3pp
Hindi
2021 count
1,134
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,134
0.9%
+0.2pp
Japanese
2021 count
1,010
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,010
0.8%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
942
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
942
0.8%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
607
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
607
0.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1,606
-4.6pp
Mandarin
+5,953
+4.4pp
Cantonese
+923
+0.5pp
Not stated
-1,094
-1.1pp
Korean
+151
0.0pp
Persian (excluding Dari)
+344
+0.3pp
Hindi
+273
+0.2pp
Japanese
+57
0.0pp
Spanish
+138
+0.1pp
German
-53
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Ku-ring-gai (A). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| English | 79,470 | 64.1% | 57.3% | 81,076 | 68.7% | 58.4% | -1,606 | -4.6pp |
| Mandarin | 16,199 | 13.1% | 5.0% | 10,246 | 8.7% | 4.7% | +5,953 | +4.4pp |
| Cantonese | 6,860 | 5.5% | 2.8% | 5,937 | 5.0% | 2.9% | +923 | +0.5pp |
| Not stated | 3,137 | 2.5% | 5.3% | 4,231 | 3.6% | 5.8% | -1,094 | -1.1pp |
| Korean | 3,100 | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2,949 | 2.5% | 1.2% | +151 | 0.0pp |
| Persian (excluding Dari) | 1,578 | 1.3% | 0.5% | 1,234 | 1.0% | 0.4% | +344 | +0.3pp |
| Hindi | 1,134 | 0.9% | 1.5% | 861 | 0.7% | 1.3% | +273 | +0.2pp |
| Japanese | 1,010 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 953 | 0.8% | 0.3% | +57 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 942 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 804 | 0.7% | 1.2% | +138 | +0.1pp |
| German | 607 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 660 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -53 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 124,059 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 118,046 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,013 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.