20th of 542 local government areas for language diversity
Languages spoken in Christmas Island
Across Christmas Island, more than two in five residents speak a language other than English at home (ABS Census 2021), and the largest of those languages, Malay, reaches only 19 per cent of residents. The rest are smaller communities, below one in 100 residents each. Only 19 councils rank higher for language diversity.
- Residents
- 1,673
- Speak another language
- 739
- Languages at home
- 22
- Change since 2016
- −8.8%
How evenly spread are Christmas Island's languages?
The largest, Malay, reaches 19 per cent of residents. Combined, the leading five account for two in five residents.
How do Christmas Island's top languages rank?
The chip beside each count is the change since 2016. Totals include broad ABS categories like "Chinese, nfd" that the list leaves out.
How big is each language community in Christmas Island?
- Grew 50%+
- 25%+
- 10%+
- Held
- Slipped
- Declined 10%+
- Not comparable
- Grew 50%+
- 25%+
- 10%+
- Held
- Slipped
- Declined 10%+
- Not comparable
Where does Christmas Island rank for language diversity?
Nationally
#20
Nationally, 19 councils rank above Christmas Island. In Australia's other territories, it’s 2 of 3. Compare Christmas Island with every council on the diversity index.
How do Christmas Island's suburbs differ?
Open any suburb for its own language breakdown.
- Christmas IslandLed by Malay44%739
- 1 suburbs, ordered by the share speaking another language at home, with the head count underneath.
What else does the census say about Christmas Island?
Overseas-born residents make up 41 per cent of residents, most often from Malaysia.
Country of birth
40.7% born overseas, across 37 countries.
- 01Malaysia316-12.5%
- 02Singapore36-5.3%
- 03New Zealand27-48.1%
- 04Philippines27+3.8%
- 05Sudan27+68.8%
- 06England26-50.0%
- 07India21+110%
- 08Indonesia17-15.0%
- 09Thailand15-28.6%
- 10Tonga13+225%
Religious affiliation
Reported affiliation, with the change since 2016.
- 01Islam381+8.2%
- 02No religion or secular beliefs332+19.9%
- 03Buddhism265-20.2%
- 04Christianity247-29.2%
- 05Hinduism8+167%
How does Christmas Island measure up against Australia as a whole?
Measured against Australia as a whole, Christmas Island's share is more than twice as high. Christmas Island is in the top ten of Australia's other territories' 3 councils.
- Christmas Island
- 44.2%
- Australia
- 21.3%
- Australia's other territories
- 40.0%
Share of residents speaking a language other than English at home, by the same method for every area.
Compare Christmas Island with every council on the diversity index.
Where is Christmas Island on the language map?
Christmas Island on the Language Map, shaded for residents who speak a multicultural languageany language other than English at home (ABS ASGS 2021 boundaries). View all councils.
Figures come from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (language used at home), aggregated from Statistical Area Level 2 to Local Government Area, with 2016 for comparison.
Other sources sometimes quote 71.0% for Christmas Island. That figure treats the 449 unanswered forms as another language. This page uses 44.2%, and 60.4% is the share among those who answered.
Ranked lists skip broad categories such as "Chinese, nfd", which stay in the totals. National figures are summed from suburbs and sit a touch under the ABS release.
Reuse these figures under CC BY 4.0 with credit to LEXIGO Language Map.
Reaching these communities in their own languages? Talk to us about translation for Christmas Island.