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 No usual address (NSW), accounting for 56.7% (6,417 people). This share was lower than New South Wales (67.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 792 people and 2.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
No usual address (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for No usual address (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against New South Wales and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (NSW), with comparison markers for New South Wales.
English
Not stated
Mandarin
Arabic
French
Spanish
Cantonese
Vietnamese
Greek
Indonesian
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-792
-2.1pp
Not stated
+547
+7.1pp
Mandarin
-154
-1.2pp
Arabic
-71
-0.5pp
French
-18
-0.1pp
Spanish
-26
-0.2pp
Cantonese
-30
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
-47
-0.4pp
Greek
+2
0.0pp
Indonesian
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for No usual address (NSW). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with New South Wales.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | New South Wales% | Count | % | New South Wales% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,417 | 56.7% | 67.6% | 7,209 | 58.8% | 68.9% | -792 | -2.1pp |
| Not stated | 3,803 | 33.6% | 5.8% | 3,256 | 26.5% | 6.2% | +547 | +7.1pp |
| Mandarin | 152 | 1.3% | 3.4% | 306 | 2.5% | 3.2% | -154 | -1.2pp |
| Arabic | 90 | 0.8% | 2.8% | 161 | 1.3% | 2.7% | -71 | -0.5pp |
| French | 72 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 90 | 0.7% | 0.3% | -18 | -0.1pp |
| Spanish | 67 | 0.6% | 0.9% | 93 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -26 | -0.2pp |
| Cantonese | 51 | 0.5% | 1.8% | 81 | 0.7% | 1.9% | -30 | -0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 39 | 0.3% | 1.5% | 86 | 0.7% | 1.4% | -47 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 37 | 0.3% | 1.0% | 35 | 0.3% | 1.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Indonesian | 31 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 28 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 11,326 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,269 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -943 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.