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 Sydney (C), accounting for 58% (122,723 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (57.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 15,431 people and 6.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Sydney (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Sydney (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
2021 count
122,723
% of total
58.0%
Change from 2016
+6.5pp
122,723
58.0%
+6.5pp
Mandarin
2021 count
18,213
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
18,213
8.6%
-1.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
15,192
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
15,192
7.2%
-5.1pp
Cantonese
2021 count
6,006
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,006
2.8%
-0.1pp
Thai
2021 count
5,916
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
5,916
2.8%
-0.4pp
Spanish
2021 count
5,054
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
5,054
2.4%
+0.7pp
Indonesian
2021 count
4,376
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,376
2.1%
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,511
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,511
1.2%
+0.1pp
Portuguese
2021 count
2,203
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,203
1.0%
+0.2pp
Korean
2021 count
2,167
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,167
1.0%
-0.6pp
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+15,431
+6.5pp
Mandarin
-2,423
-1.3pp
Not stated
-10,506
-5.1pp
Cantonese
-69
-0.1pp
Thai
-676
-0.4pp
Spanish
+1,418
+0.7pp
Indonesian
-155
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
+287
+0.1pp
Portuguese
+469
+0.2pp
Korean
-1,098
-0.6pp
Data table
Language used at home for Sydney (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 | 122,723 | 58.0% | 57.3% | 107,292 | 51.5% | 58.4% | +15,431 | +6.5pp |
| Mandarin | 18,213 | 8.6% | 5.0% | 20,636 | 9.9% | 4.7% | -2,423 | -1.3pp |
| Not stated | 15,192 | 7.2% | 5.3% | 25,698 | 12.3% | 5.8% | -10,506 | -5.1pp |
| Cantonese | 6,006 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 6,075 | 2.9% | 2.9% | -69 | -0.1pp |
| Thai | 5,916 | 2.8% | 0.4% | 6,592 | 3.2% | 0.4% | -676 | -0.4pp |
| Spanish | 5,054 | 2.4% | 1.2% | 3,636 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +1,418 | +0.7pp |
| Indonesian | 4,376 | 2.1% | 0.6% | 4,531 | 2.2% | 0.6% | -155 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 2,511 | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2,224 | 1.1% | 2.1% | +287 | +0.1pp |
| Portuguese | 2,203 | 1.0% | 0.5% | 1,734 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +469 | +0.2pp |
| Korean | 2,167 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 3,265 | 1.6% | 1.2% | -1,098 | -0.6pp |
| Total | 211,618 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 208,378 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,240 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.