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 Wagga Wagga (C), accounting for 85.4% (57,697 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (86.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,990 people, while its share fell by 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Wagga Wagga (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Wagga Wagga (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wagga Wagga (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
57,697
% of total
85.4%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
57,697
85.4%
-2.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,747
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,747
5.5%
-0.2pp
Kurdish
2021 count
707
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
707
1.0%
+1.0pp
Malayalam
2021 count
554
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
554
0.8%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
381
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
381
0.6%
+0.1pp
Arabic
2021 count
339
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
339
0.5%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
265
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
265
0.4%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
192
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
192
0.3%
0.0pp
Nepali
2021 count
177
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
177
0.3%
+0.2pp
Burmese
2021 count
161
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
161
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,990
-2.3pp
Not stated
+199
-0.2pp
Kurdish
+701
+1.0pp
Malayalam
+156
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+92
+0.1pp
Arabic
+49
0.0pp
Punjabi
+197
+0.3pp
Filipino
+32
0.0pp
Nepali
+110
+0.2pp
Burmese
+65
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Wagga Wagga (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 57,697 | 85.4% | 86.8% | 54,707 | 87.7% | 87.1% | +2,990 | -2.3pp |
| Not stated | 3,747 | 5.5% | 6.6% | 3,548 | 5.7% | 7.1% | +199 | -0.2pp |
| Kurdish | 707 | 1.0% | 0.1% | 6 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +701 | +1.0pp |
| Malayalam | 554 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 398 | 0.6% | 0.1% | +156 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 381 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 289 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +92 | +0.1pp |
| Arabic | 339 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 290 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +49 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 265 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 68 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +197 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 192 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 160 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +32 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 177 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 67 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +110 | +0.2pp |
| Burmese | 161 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 96 | 0.2% | 0.0% | +65 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 67,530 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 62,360 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,170 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.