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 Murray River (A), accounting for 89.4% (11,466 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 979 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Murray River (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Murray River (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 Murray River (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
11,466
% of total
89.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
11,466
89.4%
-0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
931
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
931
7.3%
-0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
39
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
39
0.3%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
33
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
33
0.3%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
32
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
32
0.2%
+0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
28
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
28
0.2%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
27
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
27
0.2%
+0.1pp
Malay
2021 count
27
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
27
0.2%
-
Vietnamese
2021 count
22
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
22
0.2%
-
Bislama
2021 count
20
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
20
0.2%
-
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+979
-0.5pp
Not stated
+28
-0.4pp
Filipino
+18
+0.1pp
Italian
-6
0.0pp
Mandarin
+15
+0.1pp
Tagalog
+10
0.0pp
Punjabi
+19
+0.1pp
Sinhalese
+15
+0.1pp
Thai
+1
0.0pp
Cantonese
+6
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Murray River (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 | 11,466 | 89.4% | 86.8% | 10,487 | 89.9% | 87.1% | +979 | -0.5pp |
| Not stated | 931 | 7.3% | 6.6% | 903 | 7.7% | 7.1% | +28 | -0.4pp |
| Filipino | 39 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 21 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 33 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 39 | 0.3% | 0.5% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 32 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 17 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 28 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 18 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 27 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Malay | 27 | 0.2% | 0.0% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 22 | 0.2% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Bislama | 20 | 0.2% | 0.0% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Total | 12,819 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,661 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,158 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.