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 Liverpool (C), accounting for 39.5% (92,144 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (57.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 7,633 people, while its share fell by 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Liverpool (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Liverpool (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Liverpool (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
Arabic
Not stated
Vietnamese
Hindi
Serbian
Spanish
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Urdu
Italian
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+7,633
-1.9pp
Arabic
+7,253
+1.7pp
Not stated
+2,015
0.0pp
Vietnamese
+2,494
+0.4pp
Hindi
-197
-0.6pp
Serbian
+404
-0.1pp
Spanish
-299
-0.4pp
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
+1,249
+0.3pp
Urdu
+1,603
+0.5pp
Italian
-1,033
-0.7pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Liverpool (C). 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 | 92,144 | 39.5% | 57.3% | 84,511 | 41.4% | 58.4% | +7,633 | -1.9pp |
| Arabic | 30,501 | 13.1% | 4.2% | 23,248 | 11.4% | 4.0% | +7,253 | +1.7pp |
| Not stated | 15,740 | 6.7% | 5.3% | 13,725 | 6.7% | 5.8% | +2,015 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 12,470 | 5.3% | 2.2% | 9,976 | 4.9% | 2.1% | +2,494 | +0.4pp |
| Hindi | 7,942 | 3.4% | 1.5% | 8,139 | 4.0% | 1.3% | -197 | -0.6pp |
| Serbian | 5,397 | 2.3% | 0.4% | 4,993 | 2.4% | 0.4% | +404 | -0.1pp |
| Spanish | 4,899 | 2.1% | 1.2% | 5,198 | 2.5% | 1.2% | -299 | -0.4pp |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | 4,764 | 2.0% | 0.5% | 3,515 | 1.7% | 0.4% | +1,249 | +0.3pp |
| Urdu | 3,587 | 1.5% | 0.8% | 1,984 | 1.0% | 0.6% | +1,603 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 3,501 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 4,534 | 2.2% | 1.3% | -1,033 | -0.7pp |
| Total | 233,483 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 204,318 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +29,165 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.