Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Chatswood, accounting for 34.8% (8,898 people). This share was lower than Willoughby (C) (55.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Korean, which decreased by 569 people and 2.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Chatswood - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Chatswood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Willoughby (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chatswood, with comparison markers for Willoughby (C).
English
Mandarin
Cantonese
Korean
Not stated
Japanese
Hindi
Indonesian
Nepali
Thai
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+531
+1.2pp
Mandarin
+261
+0.4pp
Cantonese
+79
0.0pp
Korean
-569
-2.4pp
Not stated
-270
-1.2pp
Japanese
+55
+0.1pp
Hindi
+148
+0.5pp
Indonesian
-10
-0.1pp
Nepali
+180
+0.7pp
Thai
+44
+0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Chatswood. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Willoughby (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,898 | 34.8% | 55.5% | 8,367 | 33.6% | 55.0% | +531 | +1.2pp |
| Mandarin | 5,948 | 23.3% | 12.9% | 5,687 | 22.9% | 12.1% | +261 | +0.4pp |
| Cantonese | 3,143 | 12.3% | 7.8% | 3,064 | 12.3% | 7.4% | +79 | 0.0pp |
| Korean | 1,223 | 4.8% | 2.3% | 1,792 | 7.2% | 3.3% | -569 | -2.4pp |
| Not stated | 1,060 | 4.1% | 3.4% | 1,330 | 5.3% | 4.8% | -270 | -1.2pp |
| Japanese | 775 | 3.0% | 2.4% | 720 | 2.9% | 2.4% | +55 | +0.1pp |
| Hindi | 498 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 350 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +148 | +0.5pp |
| Indonesian | 336 | 1.3% | 0.7% | 346 | 1.4% | 0.7% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| Nepali | 271 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 91 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +180 | +0.7pp |
| Thai | 231 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 187 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 25,559 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,888 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +671 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.