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 Salisbury (C), accounting for 62.9% (91,663 people). This share was lower than Greater Adelaide (74.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Punjabi, which increased by 2,198 people and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Salisbury (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Salisbury (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
English
2021 count
91,663
% of total
62.9%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
91,663
62.9%
-4.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
6,758
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6,758
4.6%
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
5,806
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
5,806
4.0%
+0.1pp
Hazaraghi
2021 count
3,499
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
3,499
2.4%
+1.3pp
Punjabi
2021 count
3,437
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
3,437
2.4%
+1.5pp
Khmer
2021 count
2,597
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,597
1.8%
+0.1pp
Arabic
2021 count
2,363
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,363
1.6%
+0.4pp
Nepali
2021 count
2,133
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,133
1.5%
+0.3pp
Gujarati
2021 count
1,697
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,697
1.2%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
1,584
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,584
1.1%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1,010
-4.3pp
Not stated
+150
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
+422
+0.1pp
Hazaraghi
+2,050
+1.3pp
Punjabi
+2,198
+1.5pp
Khmer
+208
+0.1pp
Arabic
+731
+0.4pp
Nepali
+480
+0.3pp
Gujarati
+727
+0.5pp
Italian
-355
-0.3pp
Data table
Language used at home for Salisbury (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | pp | |
| English | 91,663 | 62.9% | 74.8% | 92,673 | 67.2% | 75.4% | -1,010 | -4.3pp |
| Not stated | 6,758 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 6,608 | 4.8% | 4.9% | +150 | -0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 5,806 | 4.0% | 1.5% | 5,384 | 3.9% | 1.4% | +422 | +0.1pp |
| Hazaraghi | 3,499 | 2.4% | 0.5% | 1,449 | 1.1% | 0.3% | +2,050 | +1.3pp |
| Punjabi | 3,437 | 2.4% | 1.4% | 1,239 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +2,198 | +1.5pp |
| Khmer | 2,597 | 1.8% | 0.3% | 2,389 | 1.7% | 0.3% | +208 | +0.1pp |
| Arabic | 2,363 | 1.6% | 0.8% | 1,632 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +731 | +0.4pp |
| Nepali | 2,133 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 1,653 | 1.2% | 0.3% | +480 | +0.3pp |
| Gujarati | 1,697 | 1.2% | 0.5% | 970 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +727 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 1,584 | 1.1% | 1.6% | 1,939 | 1.4% | 2.1% | -355 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 145,778 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 137,951 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,827 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.