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 Penrith (C), accounting for 74.2% (161,419 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (57.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 10,125 people, while its share fell by 3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Penrith (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Penrith (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrith (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
2021 count
161,419
% of total
74.2%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
161,419
74.2%
-3.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
13,522
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
13,522
6.2%
+0.2pp
Arabic
2021 count
3,922
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,922
1.8%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
3,105
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,105
1.4%
+0.5pp
Tagalog
2021 count
2,646
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,646
1.2%
+0.1pp
Hindi
2021 count
2,367
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,367
1.1%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
1,747
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,747
0.8%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
1,462
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,462
0.7%
+0.2pp
Samoan
2021 count
1,343
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,343
0.6%
0.0pp
Urdu
2021 count
1,330
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,330
0.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+10,125
-3.0pp
Not stated
+1,829
+0.2pp
Arabic
+787
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+1,438
+0.5pp
Tagalog
+527
+0.1pp
Hindi
+622
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+394
+0.1pp
Filipino
+418
+0.2pp
Samoan
+249
0.0pp
Urdu
+509
+0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Penrith (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 | 161,419 | 74.2% | 57.3% | 151,294 | 77.2% | 58.4% | +10,125 | -3.0pp |
| Not stated | 13,522 | 6.2% | 5.3% | 11,693 | 6.0% | 5.8% | +1,829 | +0.2pp |
| Arabic | 3,922 | 1.8% | 4.2% | 3,135 | 1.6% | 4.0% | +787 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 3,105 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 1,667 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +1,438 | +0.5pp |
| Tagalog | 2,646 | 1.2% | 0.9% | 2,119 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +527 | +0.1pp |
| Hindi | 2,367 | 1.1% | 1.5% | 1,745 | 0.9% | 1.3% | +622 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 1,747 | 0.8% | 5.0% | 1,353 | 0.7% | 4.7% | +394 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 1,462 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1,044 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +418 | +0.2pp |
| Samoan | 1,343 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 1,094 | 0.6% | 0.3% | +249 | 0.0pp |
| Urdu | 1,330 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 821 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +509 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 217,661 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 196,045 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +21,616 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.