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 Maitland (C), accounting for 90.6% (81,723 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 11,335 people, while its share fell by 0.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Maitland (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Maitland (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Maitland (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
81,723
% of total
90.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
81,723
90.6%
-0.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,535
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,535
3.9%
-1.1pp
Malayalam
2021 count
344
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
344
0.4%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
332
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
332
0.4%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
265
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
265
0.3%
+0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
255
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
255
0.3%
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
207
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
207
0.2%
0.0pp
Cantonese
2021 count
188
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
188
0.2%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
173
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
173
0.2%
0.0pp
Arabic
2021 count
173
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
173
0.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+11,335
-0.4pp
Not stated
-317
-1.1pp
Malayalam
+209
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+212
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+86
+0.1pp
Tagalog
+91
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
+62
0.0pp
Cantonese
+26
0.0pp
Spanish
+52
0.0pp
Arabic
+73
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Maitland (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 81,723 | 90.6% | 86.8% | 70,388 | 91.0% | 87.1% | +11,335 | -0.4pp |
| Not stated | 3,535 | 3.9% | 6.6% | 3,852 | 5.0% | 7.1% | -317 | -1.1pp |
| Malayalam | 344 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 135 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +209 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 332 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 120 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +212 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 265 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 179 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +86 | +0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 255 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 164 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +91 | +0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 207 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 145 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +62 | 0.0pp |
| Cantonese | 188 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 162 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +26 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 173 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 121 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +52 | 0.0pp |
| Arabic | 173 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 100 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +73 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 90,198 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 77,312 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,886 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.