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 Unincorporated NT, accounting for 65.5% (4,442 people). This share was higher than Regional NT (43%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 470 people and 5.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Unincorporated NT - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Unincorporated NT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated NT, with comparison markers for Regional NT.
English
2021 count
4,442
% of total
65.5%
Change from 2016
-5.8pp
4,442
65.5%
-5.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,406
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
1,406
20.7%
+4.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
103
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
103
1.5%
+0.4pp
Tagalog
2021 count
76
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
76
1.1%
+0.7pp
Yolngu Matha, nfd
2021 count
50
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
50
0.7%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
48
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
48
0.7%
+0.3pp
Tongan
2021 count
34
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
34
0.5%
+0.1pp
Malayalam
2021 count
30
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
30
0.4%
+0.3pp
Punjabi
2021 count
27
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
27
0.4%
+0.3pp
Kriol
2021 count
25
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
25
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-470
-5.8pp
Not stated
+278
+4.3pp
Vietnamese
+25
+0.4pp
Tagalog
+46
+0.7pp
Yolngu Matha, nfd
-3
-0.1pp
Filipino
+18
+0.3pp
Tongan
+7
+0.1pp
Malayalam
+26
+0.3pp
Punjabi
+23
+0.3pp
Kriol
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Unincorporated NT. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,442 | 65.5% | 43.0% | 4,912 | 71.3% | 42.8% | -470 | -5.8pp |
| Not stated | 1,406 | 20.7% | 10.1% | 1,128 | 16.4% | 13.2% | +278 | +4.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 103 | 1.5% | 0.3% | 78 | 1.1% | 0.2% | +25 | +0.4pp |
| Tagalog | 76 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 30 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +46 | +0.7pp |
| Yolngu Matha, nfd | 50 | 0.7% | 1.8% | 53 | 0.8% | 0.6% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 48 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 30 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +18 | +0.3pp |
| Tongan | 34 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 27 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Malayalam | 30 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +26 | +0.3pp |
| Punjabi | 27 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +23 | +0.3pp |
| Kriol | 25 | 0.4% | 5.4% | 19 | 0.3% | 4.7% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 6,780 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,894 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -114 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.