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 Sutherland Shire (A), accounting for 82.9% (190,743 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (57.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 9,120 people, while its share fell by 0.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Sutherland Shire (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Sutherland Shire (A) 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 Sutherland Shire (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
2021 count
190,743
% of total
82.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
190,743
82.9%
-0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
7,709
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
7,709
3.3%
-0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
4,245
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,245
1.8%
-0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
3,763
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,763
1.6%
+0.2pp
Cantonese
2021 count
2,320
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,320
1.0%
0.0pp
Arabic
2021 count
2,281
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,281
1.0%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
1,979
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,979
0.9%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
1,583
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,583
0.7%
-0.1pp
Russian
2021 count
1,382
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,382
0.6%
+0.1pp
Macedonian
2021 count
1,320
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,320
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+9,120
-0.2pp
Not stated
-722
-0.6pp
Greek
+108
-0.1pp
Mandarin
+697
+0.2pp
Cantonese
+154
0.0pp
Arabic
+260
+0.1pp
Spanish
+364
+0.2pp
Italian
-223
-0.1pp
Russian
+383
+0.1pp
Macedonian
+227
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Sutherland Shire (A). 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 | 190,743 | 82.9% | 57.3% | 181,623 | 83.1% | 58.4% | +9,120 | -0.2pp |
| Not stated | 7,709 | 3.3% | 5.3% | 8,431 | 3.9% | 5.8% | -722 | -0.6pp |
| Greek | 4,245 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 4,137 | 1.9% | 1.6% | +108 | -0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 3,763 | 1.6% | 5.0% | 3,066 | 1.4% | 4.7% | +697 | +0.2pp |
| Cantonese | 2,320 | 1.0% | 2.8% | 2,166 | 1.0% | 2.9% | +154 | 0.0pp |
| Arabic | 2,281 | 1.0% | 4.2% | 2,021 | 0.9% | 4.0% | +260 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 1,979 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1,615 | 0.7% | 1.2% | +364 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 1,583 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 1,806 | 0.8% | 1.3% | -223 | -0.1pp |
| Russian | 1,382 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 999 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +383 | +0.1pp |
| Macedonian | 1,320 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1,093 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +227 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 230,173 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 218,473 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +11,700 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.