Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a multicultural country with a diverse range of languages. While English is the de facto official and national language, the country has over 250 Australian Aboriginal languages, and around 120 to 170 Indigenous languages and dialects that are still spoken today. In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home, with Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Cantonese being among the most commonly spoken. Despite the prevalence of English, there is a growing number of people in Australia who face difficulties with the language, with 872,206 people reporting challenges in speaking English in 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people who speak a language other than English at home | 5.8 million (22.8% of the population) as of 2021 |
| Number of people who reported speaking English "not well" or "not at all" | 820,000 as of 2016 |
| Percentage of people who spoke English "not well" or "not at all" | 3.5% as of 2016 |
| Number of people who speak English only | 72.0% as of 2021 |
| Number of people who use Australian sign language (Auslan) | 16,242 as of 2021 |
| Number of people who use other sign languages | Over 2,000 as of 2021 |
| Number of people who speak an Indigenous language | Around 120 to 170 Indigenous languages and dialects are spoken today |
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What You'll Learn
Proportion of English speakers in Australia
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia, with Australian English being a major variety of the language with a distinctive accent and lexicon. It differs slightly from other English varieties in grammar and spelling. Although English has no official legal status in Australia, it is the primary language used for addressing any legislature.
In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. This number has increased over time due to the immigration of refugees and displaced persons from European and Asian countries. In the 2016 Census, 4.9 million people reported speaking a language other than English at home, with 820,000 of those people reporting that they spoke English "not well" or "not at all". This number has been growing, rising from 560,000 people in 2006 to 655,000 people in 2011 and 820,000 in 2016.
The ability to speak English is a requirement for most permanent migrants, and many temporary migrants, to obtain a visa. As a result, the absolute number of new arrivals with little or no English language capability has decreased since the 1990s as migration programs have become more selective, and English language requirements for permanent residency have risen.
In 2021, 72.0% of people in Australia spoke English only, and 3.4% spoke another language and English "not well" or "not at all". This is a slight increase from 2016, when 65.5% of people in Australia's Greater Capital Cities spoke English only.
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English as a national language
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia. Although it has no official legal status, it is the majority language of the country. Australian English has a distinctive accent and lexicon and differs slightly from other English varieties in grammar and spelling.
In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. The ten most common of these were Mandarin (2.7%), Arabic (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.3%), Cantonese (1.2%), Punjabi (0.9%), Greek (0.9%), Italian (0.9%), Hindi (0.8%), Spanish (0.7%), and Nepali (0.5%).
The proportion of Australians speaking a language other than English increased after World War II due to the immigration of refugees and displaced persons from European countries. In the 21st century, there was another sharp increase in immigration, especially from Asia.
In 2021, 72.0% of people spoke English only, and 3.4% spoke another language and English not well or not at all. This is a decrease from 2016, when the numbers were 65.5% and 4.7%, respectively. In the 2016 Census, 4.9 million people reported speaking a language other than English at home. Of those, 820,000 people reported speaking English "not well" or "not at all." This number has been growing, from 560,000 people in 2006 to 655,000 in 2011 and 820,000 in 2016, or 2.8% to 3.5% of Australian residents during that time.
English is the language of school education in Australia and is a key learning area in the Australian curriculum up to Year 10. However, other languages are also taught, including Arabic, Auslan, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island languages.
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English language requirements for permanent residency
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia, with around 72% of the population speaking English only. However, due to Australia's multiculturalism, many people in the country speak languages other than English, with 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reporting using a language other than English at home in 2021. The most common of these languages include Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, Hindi, Spanish, and Nepali.
Regarding permanent residency, there are specific English language requirements that must be met. While English language proficiency is not a requirement for Australian citizenship, it is typically a mandatory criterion for visa applications. The specific requirements may vary depending on the visa subclass being applied for. For skilled migration visas, applicants need to meet the required English language criteria and can demonstrate this in several ways. One way is by providing evidence of superior English language skills, which can earn points towards the visa application. Functional English can be demonstrated through academic qualifications, such as completing a degree or higher education where the instruction was in English, or through certain years of primary and secondary education conducted in English.
Additionally, certain passport holders from specific countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and the Republic of Ireland, may be exempt from additional language tests. For other applicants, approved English language tests, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT), are commonly accepted. These tests are typically valid for three years from the date they are undertaken. It is important to note that the specific English language requirements may vary and that other visa subclasses may have English language exemptions.
While the English language requirements for permanent residency have risen over time, it is important to refer to official government sources and seek up-to-date information regarding the specific criteria and evidence required to meet the English language proficiency standards for permanent residency in Australia.
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English language proficiency in Australia's capital cities
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia. In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. Of these, 872,206 people reported difficulty speaking English.
In Victoria, one of Australia's capital cities, 67.2% of people spoke English only, and 4.4% spoke another language and English not well or not at all. In 2021, 285,875 people in Victoria who spoke a language other than English at home reported difficulty speaking English.
It is important to note that the data on English language proficiency is based on self-assessment, and the actual ability to communicate in everyday life may vary. The Australian Bureau of Statistics collects data on English language proficiency through its five-yearly census, and the responses are categorized as "very well", "well", "not well", or "not at all".
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Indigenous languages in Australia
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia, with Australian English being a major variety of the language with a distinctive accent and lexicon. It differs slightly from other English varieties in grammar and spelling.
However, due to Australia's multicultural nature, many of its citizens speak languages other than English. In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. The ten most common of these were Mandarin (2.7%), Arabic (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.3%), Cantonese (1.2%), Punjabi (0.9%), Greek (0.9%), Italian (0.9%), Hindi (0.8%), Spanish (0.7%), and Nepali (0.5%).
There are more than 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia, including around 800 dialects. The precise number is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 250 to 363. Many Indigenous languages became extinct with the settlement of Australia as colonial society broke up Indigenous cultures. Today, most Australian languages are considered endangered. Thirteen languages are still being transmitted to children, including Yolŋu languages from north-east Arnhem Land.
In 2021, the classifiable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island languages with the most speakers were Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) (7,596 speakers), Kriol (7,403), Djambarrpuyngu (3,839), Pitjantjatjara (3,399), Warlpiri (2,592), Murrinh Patha (2,063), and Tiwi (2,053). There were also over 10,000 people who spoke an Indigenous language that could not be further defined or classified.
Indigenous languages are an important part of Australia's cultural heritage, and efforts are being made to preserve and promote them. There are currently 22 Indigenous language centres around Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to maintain and celebrate their languages.
In recent years, several politicians have used Indigenous languages in parliamentary speeches, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who spoke Ngunnawal in 2016, and Rob Oakeshott, who gave a speech in Dhanggati in 2013.
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Frequently asked questions
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia. In 2021, 72% of Australians spoke English only.
In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home.
In 2021, 872,206 people who spoke a language other than English at home reported difficulty speaking English. In the 2016 census, 820,000 Australians reported speaking English "not well" or "not at all".
The ten most common languages other than English in Australia as of 2021 are Mandarin (2.7% of census respondents), Arabic (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.3%), Cantonese (1.2%), Punjabi (0.9%), Greek (0.9%), Italian (0.9%), Hindi (0.8%), Spanish (0.7%), and Nepali (0.5%).
Although English is the primary language used for addressing any legislature in Australia, due to the country's multiculturalism, politicians have made efforts to incorporate other languages. For example, in 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull became the first Prime Minister to use an Indigenous language, Ngunnawal, in a parliamentary speech.
