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 Orange (C), accounting for 87.2% (37,958 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,545 people, while its share fell by 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Orange (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Orange (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 Orange (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
37,958
% of total
87.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
37,958
87.2%
-0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
2,421
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
2,421
5.6%
-0.7pp
Malayalam
2021 count
280
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
280
0.6%
0.0pp
Nepali
2021 count
233
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
233
0.5%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
177
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
177
0.4%
+0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
139
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
139
0.3%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
126
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
126
0.3%
+0.1pp
Urdu
2021 count
120
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
120
0.3%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
103
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
103
0.2%
-0.1pp
Hindi
2021 count
96
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
96
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,545
-0.6pp
Not stated
-103
-0.7pp
Malayalam
+30
0.0pp
Nepali
+121
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+44
+0.1pp
Tagalog
+73
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+58
+0.1pp
Urdu
+87
+0.2pp
Italian
-27
-0.1pp
Hindi
+32
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Orange (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 | 37,958 | 87.2% | 86.8% | 35,413 | 87.8% | 87.1% | +2,545 | -0.6pp |
| Not stated | 2,421 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 2,524 | 6.3% | 7.1% | -103 | -0.7pp |
| Malayalam | 280 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 250 | 0.6% | 0.1% | +30 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 233 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 112 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +121 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 177 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 133 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 139 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 66 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +73 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 126 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 68 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +58 | +0.1pp |
| Urdu | 120 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 33 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +87 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 103 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 130 | 0.3% | 0.5% | -27 | -0.1pp |
| Hindi | 96 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 64 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +32 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 43,512 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 40,341 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,171 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.