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 (NT), accounting for 46.2% (1,605 people). This share was lower than Northern Territory (57.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 238 people, while its share fell by 9.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
No usual address (NT) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for No usual address (NT) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northern Territory and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (NT), with comparison markers for Northern Territory.
English
Not stated
Warlpiri
Inadequately described
Kriol
French
Italian
Gurindji
Spanish
Burarra
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+238
-9.7pp
Not stated
+675
+11.4pp
Warlpiri
+31
+0.7pp
Inadequately described
+37
+1.0pp
Kriol
+6
-0.2pp
French
+19
+0.4pp
Italian
+12
+0.2pp
Gurindji
+15
+0.4pp
Spanish
+10
+0.2pp
Burarra
+1
-0.2pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for No usual address (NT). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Northern Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Northern Territory% | Count | % | Northern Territory% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,605 | 46.2% | 57.6% | 1,367 | 55.9% | 58.1% | +238 | -9.7pp |
| Not stated | 1,343 | 38.7% | 9.9% | 668 | 27.3% | 12.4% | +675 | +11.4pp |
| Warlpiri | 48 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 17 | 0.7% | 1.0% | +31 | +0.7pp |
| Inadequately described | 41 | 1.2% | 0.1% | 4 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +37 | +1.0pp |
| Kriol | 37 | 1.1% | 2.3% | 31 | 1.3% | 1.9% | +6 | -0.2pp |
| French | 32 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 13 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +19 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 21 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 9 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| Gurindji | 18 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +15 | +0.4pp |
| Spanish | 17 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 7 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +10 | +0.2pp |
| Burarra | 17 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 16 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 3,474 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,446 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,028 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.