Between the 2016 and 2021 ABS census we have seen a very large increase in multicultural immigration in Australia. This has led to over 1.4m people in New South Wales (NSW) speaking a top 10 language other than English. The largest increases have come from Nepali and Indian language speakers increasing by 49% and 25% respectively. The most frequently spoken languages are Chinese, Arabic, Hindi and Punjabi.
Source: ABS Census 2021
| RANK | LANGUAGE | 2021 | % CHANGE FROM 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinese Languages | 419,628 | 9% |
| 2 | Arabic | 227,243 | 12% |
| 3 | Indian Languages | 133,511 | 25% |
| 4 | Vietnamese | 117,907 | 13% |
| 5 | Filipino | 82,469 | 16% |
| 6 | Greek | 78,691 | -4% |
| 7 | Spanish | 71,868 | 12% |
| 8 | Nepali | 68,148 | 49% |
| 9 | Italian | 64,039 | -18% |
| 10 | Korean | 62,319 | 4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most spoken languages in New South Wales aside from English?
According to the 2021 ABS Census data on Leba’s page, the top non-English languages spoken at home in NSW are:
- Chinese languages (e.g., Mandarin, Cantonese)
- Arabic
- Indian languages (combined)
- Vietnamese
- Filipino
- Greek
- Spanish
- Nepali
- Italian
- Korean
How many people in NSW speak a top 10 language other than English?
Over 1.4 million people in New South Wales speak one of the top 10 languages (other than English) at home, reflecting significant linguistic diversity within the state.
Which language groups in NSW have grown the most recently?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the largest increases in NSW were among Nepali speakers (~49% growth) and Indian language speakers (~25% growth) showing fast-growing communities.
Why is language data like this useful for multicultural advertising?
Knowing which languages are most spoken helps businesses and organisations tailor their messaging and select the right ethnic media channels boosting effectiveness and relevance for diverse audiences across NSW.
Is English included in the “top 10 languages” list?
No, the Leba page focuses on languages spoken at home other than English to highlight multicultural and multicultural communities for targeted media planning, since English is by far the dominant language overall.