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 Mid-Coast (A), accounting for 89.9% (86,805 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 5,152 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Mid-Coast (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Mid-Coast (A) 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 Mid-Coast (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
86,805
% of total
89.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
86,805
89.9%
-0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
6,696
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,696
6.9%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
236
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
236
0.2%
-0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
149
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
149
0.2%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
137
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
137
0.1%
0.0pp
Nepali
2021 count
136
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
136
0.1%
+0.1pp
French
2021 count
124
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
124
0.1%
0.0pp
Malayalam
2021 count
124
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
124
0.1%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
123
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
123
0.1%
0.0pp
Thai
2021 count
116
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
116
0.1%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,152
-0.5pp
Not stated
+409
-0.1pp
German
-28
-0.1pp
Mandarin
+41
+0.1pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Nepali
+123
+0.1pp
French
+52
0.0pp
Malayalam
+48
0.0pp
Spanish
+13
0.0pp
Thai
+36
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Mid-Coast (A). 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 | 86,805 | 89.9% | 86.8% | 81,653 | 90.4% | 87.1% | +5,152 | -0.5pp |
| Not stated | 6,696 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 6,287 | 7.0% | 7.1% | +409 | -0.1pp |
| German | 236 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 264 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -28 | -0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 149 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 108 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +41 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 137 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 134 | 0.1% | 0.5% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 136 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 13 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +123 | +0.1pp |
| French | 124 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 72 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +52 | 0.0pp |
| Malayalam | 124 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 76 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +48 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 123 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 110 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Thai | 116 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 80 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +36 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 96,549 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 90,306 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,243 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.