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 Litchfield (M), accounting for 79.2% (16,923 people). This share was higher than Greater Darwin (66.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 891 people, while its share rose by 4.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Litchfield (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Litchfield (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Litchfield (M), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
English
2021 count
16,923
% of total
79.2%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
16,923
79.2%
+4.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,177
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
3,177
14.9%
-4.5pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
143
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
143
0.7%
-0.2pp
Thai
2021 count
119
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
119
0.6%
+0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
97
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
97
0.5%
+0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
81
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
81
0.4%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
75
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
75
0.4%
+0.1pp
Indonesian
2021 count
52
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
52
0.2%
-0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
38
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
38
0.2%
-0.2pp
Khmer
2021 count
36
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
36
0.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-891
+4.4pp
Not stated
-1,452
-4.5pp
Vietnamese
-79
-0.2pp
Thai
+49
+0.3pp
Greek
+12
+0.1pp
Mandarin
+17
+0.1pp
German
+3
+0.1pp
Indonesian
-23
-0.1pp
Tagalog
-49
-0.2pp
Khmer
-25
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Litchfield (M). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| English | 16,923 | 79.2% | 66.7% | 17,814 | 74.8% | 67.9% | -891 | +4.4pp |
| Not stated | 3,177 | 14.9% | 9.8% | 4,629 | 19.4% | 11.8% | -1,452 | -4.5pp |
| Vietnamese | 143 | 0.7% | 0.9% | 222 | 0.9% | 0.7% | -79 | -0.2pp |
| Thai | 119 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 70 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +49 | +0.3pp |
| Greek | 97 | 0.5% | 2.3% | 85 | 0.4% | 2.3% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 81 | 0.4% | 1.5% | 64 | 0.3% | 1.4% | +17 | +0.1pp |
| German | 75 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 72 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Indonesian | 52 | 0.2% | 0.8% | 75 | 0.3% | 0.8% | -23 | -0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 38 | 0.2% | 1.8% | 87 | 0.4% | 1.9% | -49 | -0.2pp |
| Khmer | 36 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 61 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -25 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 21,360 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 23,809 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -2,449 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.