Language Statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Latest release

Statistics from ABS collections on the speaking and learning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Reference period
2021

Key statistics

  • Over 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were spoken in 2021.
  • 76,978 (9.5%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported speaking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language in 2021, up from 63,754 (9.8%) in 2016.
  • Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) was the most commonly spoken language.

The first release of this publication in April 2022 was externally peer-reviewed. The ABS greatly values the knowledge, expertise and contributions of these reviewers and thanks them for their time and input.

Information sources and comparability

Language information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is available in a few ABS collections. See the Information Sources table below for further information.

The information in this publication was sourced from the Census and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). When reading this publication, keep in mind that data from the Census cannot be compared to data from the NATSISS due to different collection methods.

This release incorporates results from the 2021 Census, with previous Census data available in the data downloads.  The 2021 Census product release guide outlines when second and third release results, including Remoteness, will be released. 

Information sources

Table 1 summarises key information about the use, design and scope of ABS sources that collect data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Table 1. ABS sources that collect data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages

 

Census of Population and Housing (Census)National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)

Applicable population – language questions

All persons

The applicable population has changed over time – see (a)

Persons aged 3 years and over

Best For

Analysis at small disaggregations such as low-level geography or age groups on key topics.

 

Analysis at national, state/territory and remoteness geographies.

Cross-classifying socioeconomic, cultural, health and wellbeing information.

Analysis at national, state/territory and remoteness geographies.

Cross-classifying socioeconomic, cultural, health and wellbeing information.

Geography

Available at all levels of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)

Data quality better at higher levels of geography such as State and Territory and Remoteness

Data quality better at higher levels of geography such as State and Territory and Remoteness

Frequency

Collected every 5 years. Most recent available data is 2021.

2004-05, 2012-13[b], 2018-19.

1994, 2002, 2008, 2014-15.

Comparability

Not comparable with other collections.

Language data is comparable with the NATSISS only.

Language data is comparable with the NATSIHS only.

More information – data and analysis

Find Census data

Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey

 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2014-15

  1. In the 2018-19 NATSIHS, main language spoken at home was collected for all people. In the 2012-13 NATSIHS, main language spoken at home was collected for people aged 2 years and over. In the 2004-05 NATSIHS, main language spoken at home was collected for people aged 18 years and over only.
  2. The 2012-13 NATSIHS was collected and published under the broader Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS).

 

Table 2 provides an overview of the language topics available in the Census, NATSIHS and NATSISS.

Table 2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language topics available in ABS sources

 

Census of Population and Housing (Census)

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)

Applicable population – language questions

All persons

The applicable population has changed over time – see (a)

Persons aged 3 years and over

Main language spoken at home

N

Y(b)

Y(b)

Main language spoken at home – ASCL code

N

Y

N

Language used at home

Y(c)

N

N

Language spoken at home – ASCL code

Y

N

N

Proficiency in spoken English

Y

Y(d)

Y

Whether speaks an Australian Indigenous language

N

N

Y

Whether reported using an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language at home

Y(e)

N

N

Whether understands an Australian Indigenous language

N

N

Y(f)

Whether currently learning an Australian Indigenous language

N

N

Y(f)

Who is teaching or where learning Indigenous language

N

N

Y(f)

Whether has difficulty communicating with English speakers

N

N

Y(g)

  1. In the 2018-19 NATSIHS, main language spoken at home was collected for all people. In the 2012-13 NATSIHS, main language spoken at home was collected for people aged 2 years and over. In the 2004-05 NATSIHS, main language spoken at home was collected for people aged 18 years and over only.
  2. Includes ‘English’, ‘Aboriginal language’, ‘Torres Strait Islander language’, ‘Other’, and ‘Not currently speaking’ only.
  3. In the 2021 Census, the question wording was amended to include the word 'use' rather than 'speak' to better accommodate members of the community who use sign language. See Language used at home (LANP).
  4. Only collected for people aged 2 years and over.
  5. Only available in the 2021 Census.
  6. Only collected for people aged 3 years and over.
  7. Only collected for people aged 15 years and over.

Population change over time

When considering changes over time, it is important to note that there have been significant increases in the number of people identifying as having Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin over time. Increases in the population are influenced by demographic factors such as births, deaths and migration, and by non-demographic factors including changes in whether or not a person identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander for each collection, the identification of children or others who have had their form completed by parents or someone else on their behalf, and the impact of communications and collection procedures. Changes in Indigenous status over time can affect the interpretation of data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is important to remember that Indigenous status is collected through self-identification and any change in how a person chooses to identify will affect the count of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in ABS collections.

Using ABS Language Data

When using ABS language data, it is important to consider the impacts of how the data is collected and processed. These are outlined below.

Language used at home

The 2021 Census collected information about language spoken at home through the question ‘Does the person use a language other than English at home?' and allows for one answer only from a set list of options. Respondents may either use a mark box to indicate the language used at home or write the name of the language in the text field. See Language used at home (LANP).

An enhancement to the online form in the 2021 Census presented a check box for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language for those respondents who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the Indigenous status question. To improve the data collected on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, the person also had the option of specifying the language.

The NATSISS and the NATSIHS collect information about language spoken at home through the question ‘Which language do you/does [first name]/will [first name of child under two years] mainly speak at home?’ and allow for one answer only from a set list of options.

In the NATSISS, the set list of options comprises Aboriginal language, Torres Strait Islander language, English, and Other language.  In the NATSIHS, respondents can specify which Aboriginal language, Torres Strait Islander language, or other language they speak at home.

The way that language used at home information is collected means that:

  • ABS data does not fully capture multilingualism, which is common in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The NATSISS asks limited questions on whether people who speak English at home can speak or understand an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language. These questions do not however provide detail on the number, name or proficiency of additional languages spoken.
  • ABS data may not capture heritage languages that are also spoken or being actively learnt though language revitalisation projects.
  • ABS data requires respondents to name and spell the language they speak at home. Some respondents may not have a name for the language they use or there may be variations in spelling. This can impact how responses are coded to the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL).

It is recommended to use the Census, not Survey data to analyse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages represented in the ASCL.

Whether learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language

The NATSISS is currently the only ABS source of data about whether people are learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.

The NATSISS is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only, so it does not provide information about whether non-Indigenous people are learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language. The ABS does not currently collect data on non-Indigenous people learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

In 2022-23, the NATSIHS will collect information about whether people are learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.

Available Geographies

Surveys are generally not designed to produce data at sub-state geographies (i.e., below State and Territory) – see information sources and comparability. This means that the language information collected in surveys is often not available at the regional or community level. It is recommended to use the Census for detailed regional or community level language information.

It is not possible to use data from the Census or surveys to analyse specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages or language groups. The data collected is about people who use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and allows analysis of the characteristics of these people, such as where they live.

The Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL)

Language data collected by the ABS is coded to the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL). The ASCL was introduced in 1997. It includes languages which are universally recognised as distinct and separate languages, dialects, creoles, pidgins, groups of linguistically distinct languages and sign languages.

When using the ASCL to analyse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language data, it is important to consider:

  1. To be included as a separate category in the ASCL, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages must record at least three speakers in the previous Census. This means the classification does not include all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Further information about the minimum number of speakers threshold is available in ASCL building the classification. The ASCL is dependent on respondents providing enough information to match the language they speak to the ASCL. The ASCL coding index provides a comprehensive list of the most likely responses to questions relating to language and their correct classification codes. If a respondent provides partial information or a response that is not precise enough to be coded to a language category, it is assigned to a residual code such as ‘not further defined’ or ‘not elsewhere classified’. This is particularly significant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages where there can be a variety of spellings and synonyms for a language.
  2. New languages such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Creoles are not well-represented in the ASCL. For example, a respondent may not have a name for the language they speak or the language they speak is a new contact language (a new language that emerges when speakers of two different languages communicate). Responses which cannot be identified as relating to a separately identified language in the ASCL are assigned a residual category code or a supplementary code such as ‘8000 Australian Indigenous Languages nfd’ (see ASCL coding rules for further information).
  3. The ABS does not publish detail about responses that comprise the ‘not further defined’ or ‘not elsewhere classified’ categories of the ASCL.

How the ABS is improving the collection of language data

The ABS is committed to improving the relevance and usefulness of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language data collections. Some of the ways we do this include:

  • Improving how we collect language data. For example, the 2021 Census online form provided an ‘Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language’ check box for respondents who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the Indigenous Status question. Respondents also had the option to specify which language they use in a text field. Further information about the changes in the 2021 Census is available here.
  • Tailored collection instruments. In the Census, Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are enumerated on Interviewer Household Forms (IHF). Additional instructions were added to the IHF in the 2021 Census to improve the reporting of specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Further information about the additional instructions in the 2021 Census is available here.
  • Conducting data quality assurance checks before data is released.
  • Undertaking regular reviews of the ASCL. The next review of the ASCL will be a major review and is currently scheduled to begin in 2023. Further information on how you can participate in this review will be provided on the ABS website in the first half of 2023.

Closing the Gap and Other National Government reporting

ABS survey, Census and administrative information are major data sources for a number of government reports that measure outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These include the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. Language data collected by the ABS is used in these reports.

An overview of ABS collections used in Closing the Gap and other National Government Reporting is available in Closing the Gap and Other National Government Reporting

Language speakers

The information in this section is available to download in ‘Language Speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

The Census asks, 'Does the person use a language other than English at home?'. Respondents can use a mark box to indicate the language they use at home or write the name of the language they use in a free text field. Responses to this question are coded to the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL).

Throughout this analysis, ‘Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language’ is used when referring to traditional languages, new contact languages, Aboriginal English and supplementary codes that are classified as ’Australian Indigenous Languages’ in the ASCL (codes 8000-8999).

The following abbreviated definitions are sourced from the National Indigenous Languages Report[¹]. More detail can be found in the report.

‘Traditional languages’ refers to languages ‘…spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people prior to colonisation, and the directly descended language varieties spoken today.[¹]

 ‘New contact languages’ refers to languages that ‘…have formed since 1788 from language contact between speakers of traditional languages with speakers of English and/ or other languages.[¹]

‘Aboriginal English’ is part of the ASCL classification of Australian Indigenous languages. It refers to ‘…Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of speaking English which differ somewhat from Standard Australian English, but which Standard Australian English speakers can more or less understand.[¹]

In 2021, 76,978 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported speaking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home, up from 63,754 people in 2016.

This includes:

  • 52,139 people who spoke traditional languages
  • 15,026 people who spoke new contact languages (Kriol, Yumplatok, Gurindji Kriol and Light Warlpiri)
  • 1,371 people who spoke of Aboriginal English
  • 8,440 people coded to 'not further defined' supplementary codes that are classified as ’Australian Indigenous Languages’ in the ASCL.

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home has declined over time from 16.4% in 1991 to 9.5% in 2021. During the same period, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who spoke English at home increased (78.9% to 84.1%).

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Data is based on place of usual residence.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 1.1 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

There has been little change in the proportion of people in each state and territory who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language in 2021 was:

  • Highest in the Northern Territory (58.5%)
  • Lowest in Tasmania (0.6%).

New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory recorded small increases (1.1 percentage points or less) in the proportion of people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language between 2016 and 2021.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 1.5 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

The Indigenous Locations with the largest number of people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language in 2021 were:

  • Maningrida, NT (2,198 people)    
  • Galiwinku, NT (1,964 people)  
  • Yarrabah, QLD (1,958 people)        
  • Wadeye, NT (1,575 people)    
  • Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu), NT (1,154 people)                         
  • Milingimbi, NT (1,003 people)
  • Ngukurr, NT (986 people)
  • Gunbalanya, NT (932 people)
  • Aurukun, QLD (903 people)
  • Palm Island, QLD (836 people).

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Status

In 2021:

  • 8.9% of people who identified as Aboriginal spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home
  • 19.8% of people who identified as Torres Strait Islander spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home
  • 11.8% of people who identified as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

(a) In the 2021 Census, the question 'Does the person use a language other than English at home' was amended to include the word 'use' rather than 'speak' to better accommodate members of the community who use sign language. For more information, see Language used at home (LANP) in the 2021 Census Dictionary.

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in table 1.2 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Age

The median age of people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language in 2021 was 27 years, up from 26 years in 2016. During the same period, the age distribution of people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language has remained steady.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in table 1.4 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Number of languages spoken

There were over 150 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander languages in the ASCL that were actively spoken (i.e., had one or more users) in 2021, and 50 languages with no reported users (see table 3).

There were 78 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages not spoken by children aged 0-14 years.

Table 3. Number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages spoken by number of speakers (ranged), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 2011-2021(a)(b)

Number of speakers (range)

2011

2016

2021

5,001-8,000 speakers

2

2

2

1,001-5,000 speakers

13

9

17

501-1,000 speakers

11

9

8

251-500 speakers

14

18

24

51-250 speakers

41

41

38

11-50 speakers

41

50

54

1-10 speakers

30

32

24

0 speakers

60

56

50

Number of languages spoken (1 or more speakers)

224

161

167

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

  1. Excludes languages that are not further defined (‘nfd’).
  2. Includes languages that are not elsewhere classified (‘nec’).

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data derived from tables 1.3.2, 1.3.4 and 1.3.5 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Most commonly spoken languages

The most commonly spoken Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in 2021 were:

  • Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) (7,596 people)
  • Kriol (7,403 people)[²]
  • Djambarrpuyngu (3,839 people).

These were also the most commonly spoken languages in 2016.

There were 4,197 people (5.0%) coded to ‘Australian Indigenous Languages nfd’ in 2021, down from 8,625 people (13.5%) in 2016.

‘Australian Indigenous Languages nfd’ is a supplementary code in the ASCL and is not considered a language group. It includes responses to the language used at home question that only provided enough information to indicate a person spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.

Table 4. Top 10 most commonly spoken Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 2021

Language

Number of speakers

Indigenous Locations with the highest number of speakers

Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)

7,596

Bamaga and Surrounds (Qld)

TRAWQ (Thursday Island) (Qld)

Port Kennedy (Thursday Island) (Qld)

Kriol

7,403

Ngukurr (NT)

Minyerri (NT)

Wugular (Beswick) (NT)

Australian Indigenous Languages, nfd(a)

4,197

Townsville (Qld)

Wadeye (NT)

Palm Island (Qld)

Djambarrpuyngu

3,839

Galiwinku (NT)

Ramingining (NT)

Milingimbi (NT)

Pitjantjatjara

3,399

Pukatja (Ernabella) (SA)

Amata - Tjurma Homelands (SA)

Kaltjiti (Fregon) and Irintata Homelands (SA)

Other Australian Indigenous Languages, nec (b)

2,863

Palm Island (Qld)

Port Macquarie (NSW)

Shoalhaven (NSW)

Cape York Peninsula Languages, nec

2,688

Yarrabah (Qld)

Lockhart River (Qld)

Injinoo (Qld)

Warlpiri

2,592

Yuendumu and Outstations (NT)

Lajamanu (NT)

Nyirripi (NT)

Murrinh Patha

2,063

Wadeye (NT)

Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa) (NT)

Thamarrurr exc. Wadeye (NT)

Tiwi

2,053

Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) (NT)

Milikapiti (NT)

Pirlangimpi (NT)

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Data is based on place of usual residence.

  1. Australian Indigenous Languages nfd is a supplementary code in the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) and is not considered a language group.
  2. Not elsewhere classified ‘nec’ is for any language which is not separately identified in the ASCL because it does not meet the threshold for the minimum number of speakers.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

There were slight differences in the age distribution of the top 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages spoken at home.

The languages with the highest proportion of children aged 0-14 years using language were:

  • Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) (32.8%)
  • Cape York Peninsula languages, nec (31.4%)
  • Warlpiri (30.8%)
  • Alyawarr (31.3%).

These language age distributions vary from the overall age distribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people counted in the 2021 Census:

  • 32.7% were aged 0-14 years
  • 18.5% were aged 15-24 years
  • 25.3% were aged 25-44 years
  • 17.7% were aged 45-64 years
  • 5.9% were aged 65 years and over.

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Data is based on place of usual residence.

  1.  Excludes Australian Indigenous Languages nfd as this is a supplementary code in the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) and is not considered a language group.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in table 1.3.4 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’.

English as a second language

The information presented in this section is available to download in ‘English as a second language’ from ‘Data downloads’.

In the Census, people who use a language other than English at home are asked how well they speak English on a scale of ‘Very Well’ to ‘Not at All’. Responses to this question are subjective and are not a definitive indicator of a person’s English language proficiency.

The majority (87.4%) of people who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home in 2021 reported using English ‘Very well’ or ‘Well’ (up from 81.6% in 2011).

A small proportion reported speaking English ‘Not well’ ‘(7.9% down from 13.1% in 2011) or ‘Not at All’ (2.1%, down from 3.6% in 2011).

Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

  1. Excludes people whose main language spoken at home was English.
  2. Includes people who did not state their main language at home or proficiency in spoken English, and people who spoke a language other than English at home but did not state their proficiency in spoken English.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 1.1 in ‘English as a second language’ from ‘Data downloads’.

The 2014-15 NATSISS asked people aged 15 years and over whose main language spoken at home was an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language ‘When you go to places where only English is spoken, do you have problems with:

  • Understanding people there?
  • People there understanding you?’.

Whether people respond that they experience either, both or neither of these problems provides a measure of whether people have difficulty communicating with English speakers.

In 2014-15, just over one-third (37.9%) of people aged 15 years and over whose main language spoken at home was an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language reported experiencing difficulty understanding and/or being understood by English speakers.

Understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages

The information presented in this section is available to download in ‘Language learning’ from ‘Data downloads’.

The information in this section is from the 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). The NATSISS is currently the only source of information collected by the ABS on the learning and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages amongst people whose main language spoken at home is English.

Speaking and/or understanding part, or all, of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language is an important part of strengthening the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages spoken[³].

The 2014-15 NATSISS asked people whose main language spoken at home was not an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language a series of questions about whether they could also speak or understand an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language. Of these people:

  • 22.7% could speak and understand some words
  • 12.2% could understand some words but not speak any words
  • 7.2% could speak and understand an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.

Of people in remote areas whose main language spoken at home was not an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language:

  • 36.3% could speak and understand some words
  • 20.0% could speak and understand an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.

Of people in non-remote areas whose main language spoken at home was not an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language:

  • 20.4% could speak and understand some words
  • 12.4% could not speak an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language but could understand some words.

Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

  1. Data is for persons aged 3 years and over. Excludes persons whose main language spoken at home was an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language and persons not currently speaking.
  2. Includes migratory-offshore-shipping and no usual address.

Source:  National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2014-15

Data available in table 2.1 in ‘Language speakers’ from ‘Data downloads’

Learning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages

Around one in ten (11.6%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose main language spoken at home was not an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language were learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language in 2014-15 – similar to 2008 (11.8%).

In non-remote areas, there was very little change in the proportion of people learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language between 2008 and 2014-15.

In remote areas, there was a small increase in the proportions of children and young adults learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language between 2008 and 2014-15, though the increase was not statistically significant.

Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

  1. Data is for persons aged 3 years and over. Excludes persons whose main language spoken at home was an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language and persons not currently speaking.

Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2008 and 2014-15

Data available in table 1.1 and 1.2 in ‘Language learning’ from ‘Data downloads’

Where people were learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages

Families and communities play an essential role in sharing and promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. The 2014-15 NATSISS asked people who were learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language ‘Where are you learning or who is teaching you the language?’. People could choose more than one option from a list that included:

  • Parent
  • Brother/sister
  • Partner/husband/wife
  • Other relative (e.g. Auntie or Grandfather, Community Elder Neighbour/friend/other community member)
  • Volunteer organisation or community group organisation
  • School
  • TAFE/University
  • Adult learning centre/community centre/library
  • Other.

The main sources of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language learning were:

  • Family members (62.1%)
  • School, TAFE or University (26.5%)
  • Community members (21.2%).

In non-remote areas, volunteer organisations, community groups, adult learning centres and libraries were also important places of language learning (14.0%).

A considerable proportion of children aged 3-14 years (39.5%) were learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at school.

Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

  • Data is for persons aged 3 years and over. Excludes persons whose main language spoken at home was an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language and persons not currently speaking.
  • Includes migratory-offshore-shipping and no usual address.
  • Includes parent, sibling, partner and other relatives.
  • Includes elder, neighbour and friend.
  • Includes volunteer organisations, community groups, adult learning centres, libraries and other.

Source:  National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2014-15

Data available in table 2.1 in ‘Language learning’ from ‘Data downloads’

Useful resources

The following resources provide invaluable insights into the study, learning and sharing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

References

[¹] Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, AIATSIS, ANU, CAEPR & CoEDL. 2020, p. 17.

[²] Kriol is usually found in the Northern Territory, in certain Kimberley communities, the Katherine, Daly River and Barkly Regions, and in some western Queensland towns (Angelo, O’Shannessy, Simpson, Kral, Smith, and Browne, 2019). In 2021, there were 5,163 people who used Kriol in the Northern Territory, 2,027 in Western Australia, 128 in Queensland, 57 in New South Wales, 18 in Victoria and three in the Australian Capital Territory. There were no people who reported using Kriol in Tasmania or South Australia in 2021.

[³] First Languages Australia, 2019, Notes to assist reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, available from: https://www.firstlanguages.org.au/resources/reporting, accessed 27 October 2021.

Bibliography

Angelo D, O’Shannessy C, Simpson J, Kral I, Smith H, and Browne E (2019). Well-being & Indigenous Language Ecologies (WILE): A strengths-based approach. Literature Review for the National Indigenous Languages Report, Pillar 2. Canberra: The Australian National University. Available from: <https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/186414>

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, formerly the Department of Communications and the Arts. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) (Battin J, Lee J, Marmion D, Smith R, Wang T). Australian National University (ANU) researchers at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) (Dinku Y, Hunt J, Markham F), and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL) (Angelo D, Browne E, Kral I, O’Shannessy C, Simpson J, Smith H) (2020). National Indigenous Languages Report. Canberra: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, formerly the Department of Communications and the Arts. Available from: <https://www.arts.gov.au/what-we-do/indigenous-arts-and-languages/national-indigenous-languages-report>

Available data

Language speakers

Topic

Disaggregation

Collection

Table

Language spoken/used at homeTime SeriesCensus 1991-2021Table 1.1
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons who spoke/used an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home by Indigenous statusLanguage, Indigenous status, Time SeriesCensus 2006-2021Table 1.2
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home by ageLanguage, AgeCensus 2006Table 1.3.1
Language, Age Census 2011Table 1.3.2
Language, Age Census 2016Table 1.3.3
Language, Age Census 2021Table 1.3.4
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons who spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home by ageAge (including median age), Time SeriesCensus 2006-2021Table 1.4
Language spoken/used at home, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons by State/TerritoryLanguage, State/Territory, Time SeriesCensus 2006-2021Table 1.5
Whether speaks or understands an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language by RemotenessRemotenessNATSISS 2008 and 2014-15Table 2.1

Language speakers by State/Territory, Indigenous Region and Indigenous Location

Topic

Disaggregation

Collection

Table

Language spoken at home by Indigenous Region and Indigenous Location, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons

Indigenous Region, Indigenous Location, Language spoken at home

Census 2016

Tables 1.1-1.9

Language used at home by Indigenous Region and Indigenous Location, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons

Indigenous Region, Indigenous Location, Language used at home

Census 2021

Tables 2.1-2.9

English as a second language

Topic

Disaggregation

Collection

Table

Proficiency in spoken English, persons who reported speaking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language

Time series

Census 2006-2021

Table 1.1

Whether experienced difficulty understanding and/or being understood by English speakers

Remoteness

NATSISS 2014-15

Table 2.1

Language learning

Topic

Disaggregation

Collection

Table number

Whether learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language

Remoteness, Age

NATSISS 2014-15

Table 1.1

Whether learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language

Remoteness, Age

NATSISS 2008

Table 1.2

Where people were learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Language

Remoteness

NATSISS 2014-15

Table 2.1

Where people were learning an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Language

Remoteness

NATSISS 2008

Table 2.2

Data downloads

Language speakers

Language speakers by State/Territory and Indigenous Location

English as a second language

Language learning

Catalogue number

This content is released under the ABS catalogue number 4743.0

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