Lexi Webster
French is a language of cultural significance in Australia, with a growing number of French speakers in the country. In 2017, there were 69,898 French speakers in Australia, a 23% increase from 2011. While English is the de facto official and national language in Australia, with 72% of the population speaking only English at home, the number of people speaking languages other than English at home has increased due to immigration. In 2021, 5.8 million people used a language other than English at home, with French speakers found across all Australian states and territories.
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What You'll Learn
French speakers in Australia: 69,898
French is a language of cultural significance in Australia, but there are fewer than 70,000 people who speak French at home. According to one source, there are 69,898 French speakers in Australia. This number includes people who speak French at home and those who have learned it as a second language.
The majority of French speakers in Australia reside in New South Wales (NSW), but French is spoken at home across all Australian states and territories. The largest French Australian community is in NSW, where the Brisbane French Festival, held over the Bastille Day weekend, is Australia's biggest French festival.
Of the French speakers in Australia, 29.1% were born in France, 27.4% were born in Australia, and 17% were born in Mauritius. 69.1% of French speakers in the country are Australian citizens, and almost 80% have completed Year 12 studies, compared to 56.8% of the general population. There are slightly more female (52.5%) than male (47.5%) French speakers in Australia. Most Australian French speakers are either Catholic (41.4%) or not religious (37%).
French is not the only language spoken in Australia besides 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 languages were 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%).
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French-born people in Australia: 36,028
According to the 2021 Census, there were 36,028 French-born people residing in Australia. This is an increase from the 2016 Census, which recorded 31,124 people in Australia who were born in France. The largest French-Australian community is in the state of New South Wales, where the majority of French speakers can be found.
Of the French-born population in Australia, 51.4% are male and 48.6% are female. The median age is 38 years, with 5.9% aged 0-14 and 14.8% aged 65 and over. In terms of religion, 46.5% reported having no religion, 36.1% are Catholic, 1.4% are Christian, 1.3% are Jewish, and 1.2% are Buddhist. The majority of French-born people in Australia are Roman Catholics, and there is also a significant group of Australians of Huguenot descent.
Education-wise, 17.2% of French-born people in Australia were attending an educational institution, with 3.2% in primary school, 3.0% in secondary school, and 7.6% in tertiary or technical institutions. 13.6% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, while 12.5% had completed a Certificate III or IV, and 12.1% had an Advanced Diploma or Diploma.
In terms of employment, the most common occupations for French-born people in Australia were professionals (31.2%), managers (18.6%), technicians and trades workers (12.0%), community and personal service workers (11.5%), and clerical and administrative workers (9.5%). The most common industries of employment were cafes and restaurants (7.8%), computer system design and related services (4.1%), higher education (3.8%), accommodation (2.3%), and hospitals (1.7%). The personal weekly median income was $849, with a family median weekly income of $2,205 and a household median weekly income of $2,048.
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French Australians in New South Wales: the largest community
French Australians are Australian citizens or residents of French ancestry or French-born people who reside in Australia. According to the 2021 Census, there were 148,922 people of French descent in Australia and 36,028 French-born people residing in the country. The largest French Australian community is in the state of New South Wales, with 12,735 acquiring Australian citizenship. The majority of those who speak French at home in Australia are found in New South Wales, but French is spoken across all Australian states and territories.
The history of the French in Australia dates back to the arrival of the First Fleet in Plymouth in 1787, which sparked interest in France. Two French ships commanded by Jean-Francois de Galaup, Comte de La Pérouse, arrived in Botany Bay in January 1788 as the First Fleet was setting sail for Port Jackson. The voyage of La Pérouse, who led two ships on a voyage of exploration around the world, was depicted in a painting by French artist Nicolas-André Monsiau in 1817. La Pérouse's ships later sailed out of Botany Bay, and he was never heard from again. This sparked several other French naval expeditions to Australia and the Pacific in the first half of the 19th century, which undertook important scientific and cultural research.
The French who came to Australia after 1788 generally sought opportunity and new horizons. The expansion of commercial relations between Australia and Europe in the late 19th century further accelerated French migration. By the 1890s, French wool buyers had settled in Australia, founding prosperous French-Australian families. The Playousts, the Lamérands, and the Paroissiens were among the first, followed by other families such as the Dekyvères, the Flipos, and the Droulers. The local French colony's prestige and influence continued until World War II and beyond.
The Sydney French community played a significant role during World War II, rallying behind General de Gaulle's Free French movement. In the post-war period, there was an increase in French migration to Australia during the 1960s and 1970s. However, due to chronic underemployment, France did not establish a formal migration scheme at the time. As a result, there has been a small flow of French immigrants to Australia since then. Today, many French Australians originate from French overseas territories, particularly New Caledonia.
The French language and culture continue to have a presence in New South Wales and Australia. The Alliance Française actively teaches the French language and holds cultural events. SBS has also contributed to the popularity of French cinema and culture among Australian audiences. Additionally, the Brisbane French Festival, held over the Bastille Day weekend, is Australia's biggest French festival, celebrating French culture and heritage.
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French speakers in Australia: by country of birth
French Australians are Australian citizens or residents of French ancestry or French-born people who reside in Australia. According to the 2021 Census, there were 148,922 people of French descent in Australia and 36,028 French-born people residing in the country. The largest French Australian community is in the state of New South Wales. The majority of those who speak French at home in Australia are found in NSW, but French is spoken across all Australian states and territories.
The largest post-war increase in French migration to Australia came during the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike many other European countries, France did not establish a migration scheme in the immediate post-war period due to chronic underemployment. Since that time, there has only been a small flow of French immigrants to Australia. Many people in the French-Australian community now originate from French overseas territories, especially New Caledonia.
Some Australians of French Huguenot descent have assimilated into the country's predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture, but many still identify strongly as Huguenots. The Huguenot Society of Australia encourages Australian Huguenots to embrace their cultural heritage and provides genealogical research services. French cuisine has influenced the nation, with French-inspired cafes, restaurants and boulangeries found in most major cities.
According to the 2021 Census, the majority of people born in France and living in Australia were aged 50-65, with the 40-49 age group close behind. 50% of French-born people in Australia were over 40. After France, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo make up the majority of people living in Australia who were born in a country where French is the official language. Canada, Switzerland and Belgium are also in the top countries of birth where French is one of the official languages.
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French: a language of cultural significance in Australia
French is a language of cultural significance in Australia, with a growing number of French speakers in the country. According to a 2017 report, there were 69,898 French speakers in Australia, a 23% increase since 2011, and a 64% increase since 2006. The majority of French speakers in Australia are found in New South Wales, but French is spoken across all Australian states and territories.
The French-Australian community is diverse, with many originating from French overseas territories, especially New Caledonia, and others with roots in various countries where French is the official language, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Vanuatu, Burundi, and Seychelles. According to the 2021 Census, there were 36,028 French-born people in Australia, with the majority falling in the 50-65 age group, and 40% being over 40.
French Australians have a strong presence in the country, with the largest community in New South Wales. The Brisbane French Festival, held over the Bastille Day weekend, is a testament to the vibrant French culture in Australia. Organisations like Alliance Française actively promote French language and culture through events and festivals, while SBS has played a significant role in increasing the popularity of French cinema and culture among Australians.
French is offered as a language of instruction in Australian schools, although some sources indicate that language instruction tends to be basic. French is one of the languages offered in primary schools and later as electives in high school. However, the retention of the language seems to be a challenge, as one source mentions that many Australians tend to lose their family's native language as they assimilate into the dominant Anglo-Saxon culture. Nonetheless, French continues to be a language of cultural importance, as evidenced by politicians like Jerome Laxale and Zoe McKenzie, who delivered their maiden speeches in both English and French, honouring their French heritage.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2017 report, there are 69,898 French speakers in Australia. A more recent report from 2021 states that 5.8 million people in Australia use a language other than English at home, but French is not listed among the top ten most common languages.
According to the 2021 Census, 36,028 French-born people reside in Australia.
French is not among the most common languages spoken in Australia, so it likely makes up a very small percentage of the population.
The majority of French speakers in Australia reside in New South Wales (NSW).
No, French is not widely spoken in Australia. English is the de facto official and national language, and it is the language of school education.
