6th of 542 local government areas for language diversity
The many languages of Canterbury-Bankstown
Canterbury-Bankstown doesn't have one second language. 106 languages have ten or more speakers each, and 59 per cent of residents speak something other than English at home, the 2021 Census shows. Over 100 languages clear ten speakers, 106 in all. Canterbury-Bankstown is sixth of 542 local government areas on the diversity index.
- Residents
- 367,049
- Speak another language
- 215,016
- Languages at home
- 154
- Change since 2016
- +5.2%
How evenly spread are Canterbury-Bankstown's languages?
At the top of the list, Arabic accounts for just over one in six residents. Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Greek and Cantonese add up to 39 per cent of residents. No fewer than 10 languages reach one resident in 100.
Which languages have the most speakers in Canterbury-Bankstown?
Counts are people who speak the language at home; the chip is their change since 2016. Catch-all ABS groups aren't listed.
- 0164,219+6.9%
- 0228,240+11.7%
- 0318,409+11.4%
- 0417,909-6.3%
- 0513,273-2.5%
- 069,236+7.4%
- 079,194+39.0%
- 084,861-19.4%
- 094,438+5.3%
- 104,357+47.3%
How do Canterbury-Bankstown's languages compare in size?
- Grew 50%+
- 25%+
- 10%+
- Held
- Slipped
- Declined 10%+
- Not comparable
- Grew 50%+
- 25%+
- 10%+
- Held
- Slipped
- Declined 10%+
- Not comparable
Where does Canterbury-Bankstown rank for language diversity?
Nationally
#6
On the diversity index, which ranks every council by the share speaking a multicultural language at home, Canterbury-Bankstown is 6th of 542. In New South Wales, it’s 4 of 128. See where Canterbury-Bankstown sits on the diversity index.
How do Canterbury-Bankstown's suburbs differ?
Bankstown and Milperra sit at opposite ends.
Pick a suburb to see its languages in full.
- BankstownLed by Vietnamese73%25,331
- LakembaLed by Bengali73%12,252
- Wiley ParkLed by Bengali72%7,149
- CampsieLed by Mandarin71%18,228
- Mount LewisLed by Arabic70%1,053
- Punchbowl (Canterbury-Bankstown - NSW)Led by Arabic69%14,105
- SeftonLed by Arabic66%4,205
- Potts HillLed by Arabic66%962
- GreenacreLed by Arabic65%17,106
- BirrongLed by Vietnamese65%2,175
- YagoonaLed by Arabic64%12,348
- Condell ParkLed by Arabic63%8,140
- Chester HillLed by Arabic61%8,459
- BelmoreLed by Greek61%8,218
- NarweeLed by Cantonese60%3,132
- VillawoodLed by Arabic60%4,030
- RoselandsLed by Arabic58%6,950
- Bass HillLed by Arabic57%5,764
- Canterbury (NSW)Led by Mandarin56%5,251
- KingsgroveLed by Greek55%6,900
- Clemton ParkLed by Greek52%959
- BelfieldLed by Arabic51%3,313
- Bankstown AerodromeLed by Italian50%3
- RevesbyLed by Arabic48%7,281
- Georges HallLed by Arabic47%4,573
- PadstowLed by Arabic45%6,335
- EarlwoodLed by Greek45%7,962
- PananiaLed by Arabic37%4,946
- Hurlstone ParkLed by Greek37%1,862
- AshburyLed by Italian34%1,097
- East HillsLed by Arabic31%1,090
- Revesby HeightsLed by Arabic30%654
- Lansdowne (Canterbury-Bankstown - NSW)27%3
- Picnic PointLed by Arabic26%1,535
- Padstow HeightsLed by Arabic25%875
- MilperraLed by Arabic19%770
- Each percentage is the share of a suburb speaking a language other than English at home, over the number of people. 36 suburbs in all.
What else does the census say about Canterbury-Bankstown?
More than two in five residents were born overseas.
Country of birth
42.8% born overseas, across 161 countries.
- 01Vietnam22,232+15.5%
- 02Lebanon21,514+8.4%
- 03China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)18,655+3.7%
- 04Bangladesh7,220+3.4%
- 05Greece7,178+1.4%
- 06India6,335+28.2%
- 07Pakistan5,228+8.2%
- 08Philippines4,714+17.3%
- 09Nepal4,237+49.2%
- 10Indonesia4,092+19.4%
Religious affiliation
Reported affiliation, with the change since 2016.
- 01Christianity155,815-4.3%
- 02Islam88,131+22.0%
- 03No religion or secular beliefs64,699+24.7%
- 04Buddhism22,494+5.4%
- 05Hinduism7,778+18.5%
- 06Judaism130+58.5%
How much more multilingual is Canterbury-Bankstown than New South Wales?
Canterbury-Bankstown has more than twice the rate of other-language speakers found across New South Wales. Within New South Wales, Canterbury-Bankstown ranks 4th of 128.
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- 58.6%
- New South Wales
- 25.7%
- City of Sydney
- 33.9%
Residents speaking a language other than English at home, as a share of all residents.
Where does Canterbury-Bankstown sit on the map of Australia's languages?
The shading shows how many residents speak a multicultural languageany language other than English at home, on ABS ASGS 2021 boundaries. Compare Canterbury-Bankstown with its neighbours on the full map.
Data: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021, language used at home, summed from Statistical Area Level 2 to council. Changes are against the 2016 Census.
Blank answers matter here. 26,552 residents gave none, and they're left out of the 58.6%. Count them in and it's 65.8%; drop them from the base and it's 63.1%.
People with no usual address fall outside any suburb, which is why the national figure here is a fraction under the ABS one. The council figures aren't affected.
Reuse these figures under CC BY 4.0 with credit to LEXIGO Language Map.
For material in these languages, talk to LEXIGO about translation.