Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a multicultural country with a diverse range of languages spoken across the nation. English is the de facto national language, spoken by 72% of the population at home, and is the primary language of education in schools. However, there is no official language in Australia. The country has a rich Indigenous linguistic heritage, with over 250 Aboriginal languages and hundreds of dialects. Additionally, waves of immigration have introduced various community languages, with 22.8% of the population speaking a language other than English at home as of 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is there an official language in Australia? | No, but English is the de facto national language. |
| How many people use English at home? | 72% of the population (as of 2021) |
| How many people use a language other than English at home? | 5.8 million (22.8% of the population, as of 2021) |
| What are the most common languages other than English? | Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, Hindi, Spanish, Nepali, Tagalog, Korean, Portuguese |
| How many Indigenous languages are there? | Over 250, including around 800 dialects |
| How many Indigenous languages are in use or being revived? | More than 120, out of which 70 are endangered (as of 2018-19) |
| How many people speak an Indigenous language at home? | 76,978 (as of the 2021 census) |
| Which Indigenous languages have the most speakers? | Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Kriol, Djambarrpuyngu, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Murrinh Patha, Tiwi |
| How many people use sign languages? | 16,242 people use Auslan; over 2,000 people use other sign languages (as of the 2021 census) |
| How many people use Norf'k-Pitcairn? | 907 (as of 2021) |
| How many people use Cocos Malay? | Around 700 (as of 2021) |
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What You'll Learn
English is the de facto national language
The country's multicultural nature means that many other languages are spoken in Australia. In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. The most common of these languages are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Hindi. The proportion of Australians speaking a language other than English has increased over time, particularly following the Second World War, due to the immigration of refugees and displaced people.
There are more than 250 Indigenous languages in Australia, including around 800 dialects. Many Indigenous languages have become extinct since 1950, and most surviving languages have very few speakers. The 2021 census found that 167 Indigenous languages were spoken at home by 76,978 Indigenous Australians. The Indigenous languages with the most speakers include Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Kriol, Djambarrpuyngu, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Murrinh Patha, and Tiwi.
The Australian sign language, Auslan, was used at home by 16,242 people at the time of the 2021 census. Over 2,000 people used other sign languages, and there is a small community of people who use Australian Irish Sign Language.
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Mandarin, Arabic, and Vietnamese are common
Australia has witnessed significant immigration waves, particularly from Asia, in the 21st century. This has resulted in a notable increase in the number of community languages spoken across the nation. While English is the de facto official and national language of Australia, it is interesting to note that in 2021, 5.8 million people, or 22.8% of the population, reported using a language other than English at home.
Mandarin, Arabic, and Vietnamese are among the most common languages spoken in Australia, aside from English. In the 2021 census, Mandarin was the second most commonly spoken language, with 2.7% of census respondents using it at home. Arabic followed closely behind, with 1.4% of respondents speaking it. Vietnamese was also widely spoken, with 1.3% of the population choosing it as their language of communication. These languages reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds of Australia's immigrant populations.
Mandarin's presence in Australia can be attributed to the significant Chinese community within the country. Arabic, on the other hand, is prevalent due to the large number of Australian residents with ancestry from the Middle East and North Africa, often referred to as Arab Australians. This community includes diverse ethnic groups such as Arabs, Kurds, Copts, Assyrians, and Berbers. The majority of Arab Australians are Lebanese Christians, with significant populations of Muslim and Christian Arabs from other countries in the region.
Vietnamese is another prominent language in Australia, with a notable Vietnamese diaspora. The history of Vietnamese immigration to Australia is closely tied to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Australia, as a signatory to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, played a role in resettling Vietnamese refugees between 1975 and 1985. Subsequent immigration peaks in the 1980s were driven by family reunion schemes, allowing relatives of Vietnamese Australians to migrate to Australia.
While Mandarin, Arabic, and Vietnamese are widely spoken, it is worth noting that Australia is home to a rich tapestry of languages. The country has a long history of Indigenous languages, with over 250 Australian Aboriginal languages believed to have existed before European contact. Today, efforts are being made to preserve and revive these Indigenous languages, with more than 120 varieties in use or under restoration, according to the National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS) for 2018-2019.
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Indigenous languages are diverse
English is the de facto national language of Australia, with 72% of the population using it as the only language in their homes. However, the country is linguistically diverse, with more than 250 Indigenous languages and around 800 dialects. The precise number of Indigenous languages is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 250 to 363. These languages are spoken by the Indigenous peoples of mainland Australia and some nearby islands.
The Indigenous languages of Australia belong to numerous language families and isolates. Most of these languages belong to the widespread Pama–Nyungan family, while the rest are classified as "non-Pama–Nyungan". In the late 18th century, there were over 250 distinct First Nations Peoples social groupings, each with their own language or variety. However, many of these languages became extinct with the settlement of colonial societies, which broke up Indigenous cultures.
Today, only a fraction of these Indigenous languages remain in daily use, with the majority being highly endangered. In 2020, 90% of the little over 100 languages still spoken are considered endangered. The National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS) for 2018-19 found that of the more than 120 Indigenous language varieties in use or being revived, 70 were endangered. The 2021 census found that 167 Indigenous languages were spoken at home by 76,978 Indigenous Australians.
Indigenous languages in Australia are diverse not only in their sheer number but also in their unique characteristics. Traditional Indigenous languages often incorporated sign systems to aid communication with the hearing impaired and to complement or replace verbal communication when spoken language was forbidden for cultural reasons. Many of these sign systems are still in use today. Additionally, each Indigenous language is specific to a particular place and people, with some areas like Arnhem Land having multiple languages spoken over a small region.
Efforts are being made to preserve and revive Indigenous languages in Australia. Linguists and community members are working to record languages and provide resources and programs to encourage language learning. Some Indigenous communities support learning programs for language revival or "post-vernacular maintenance," where community members can learn words and concepts related to a lost language.
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Immigration has influenced language
Australia has long been considered one of the world's most multicultural and multilingual societies. The country has experienced significant immigration, with over 25 million Australians today identified with more than 290 ancestries. This diversity has naturally influenced the languages spoken in Australia, with the number of community languages increasing rapidly in recent decades.
The first wave of immigration to Australia came with British settlement in 1788, when English was introduced to the country. Over time, English gradually replaced Indigenous languages to become the majority language of Australia. Today, English is the de facto national language and is spoken by 72% of the population as the only language in the home. It is also the primary language used in education and for addressing any legislature.
However, Australia's Indigenous languages have not disappeared. In the 2021 census, 167 Indigenous languages were reported to be spoken at home by 76,978 Indigenous Australians. The Australian government has committed funding to teach First Nations languages in primary schools, and there are also Indigenous Language Centres across the country. Additionally, Australian Sign Language (Auslan) was used at home by 16,242 people in 2021.
Major waves of immigration following the Second World War and in the 21st century significantly increased the number of community languages spoken in Australia. The proportion of Australians speaking a language other than English increased due to the immigration of refugees and displaced persons, particularly from European countries. In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. The most common of these languages were Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Hindi.
Australia's immigration policy has shifted to favour skilled and business immigrants from emerging Asian economic centres, leading to an increase in Asian immigrants with higher levels of education. This has influenced language use in Australia, with variations observed between traditional European migrant groups and new Asian arrivals. The ranking order of different home language speakers has changed considerably compared to the last century, reflecting the dynamic and diverse nature of Australia's multicultural society.
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Language education in Australia
Although English is not the official language of Australia, it is the de facto national language and is almost universally spoken. It was introduced to the country upon British settlement in 1788 and gradually overtook Indigenous languages to become the majority language.
Today, English is the language of school education in Australia and is a key learning area in the Australian curriculum up to Year 10. However, Australia's language education system has been criticised for its poor track record, which has only been getting worse. This is partly due to the perception that languages are an unnecessary hindrance to 'real' education. The current system also focuses on language accuracy over fluency, which does not adequately prepare students for real-life interactions.
Despite this, there is a growing passion for languages education in Australia, with innovative pedagogies being implemented by some teachers, some of which are endorsed by the government. There has also been increased investment in early language learning, with the federal government announcing a $11.8 million investment in Early Learning Languages Australia, a digital, play-based language learning program for preschoolers. The Victorian state government has also committed $17.9 million to an early childhood language program running from 2019 to 2022.
In Victoria, schools must meet minimum standards for registration, including the provision of language education delivered by a registered teacher or staff with permission to teach. Schools that do not provide a language program are identified through a languages census, and the department then seeks an exemption from the requirement for one year, supporting school planning for the provision of a language program in the subsequent year. The Victorian Curriculum F–10 Languages recognises that learning a language is a sequential and cumulative process, and that students learn most effectively through regular engagement over an extended period and opportunities to practise and meaningfully use the language. Schools are therefore required to implement the curriculum and report on student learning against the achievement standards it sets out.
The Australian curriculum includes a range of languages, such as Arabic, Auslan, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages and Classical Languages, including Classical Greek and Latin.
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Frequently asked questions
English is the de facto national language of Australia and is spoken by almost everyone. However, there are over 250 Indigenous languages, including around 800 dialects.
In 2021, 5.8 million people (22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home.
The most common languages spoken in Australia other than English are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Hindi.
Some Indigenous languages with the most speakers in Australia today are Upper Arrernte, Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Tiwi, Warlpiri, Walmajarri, and Western Desert.
Immigration has significantly influenced the languages spoken in Australia. For example, the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 (“White Australia” policy) aimed to exclude non-British or non-European immigrants, leading to a predominance of English and European languages. However, waves of immigration after World War II and in the 21st century increased the number of community languages spoken, including Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Nepali.
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