Official Language
English
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: profile.id.com.au, avenueperth.com
Overall10/10English is the native language
Good to know
Good to Know
- English is the sole official language and is spoken as primary language by over half the city center population; nomads will have zero friction with daily communication
- Perth's increasing diversity means you'll hear Mandarin, Spanish, Cantonese, Italian, Vietnamese, and Arabic in various neighborhoods and communities, especially in Northbridge (Chinese speakers)
- Indigenous Noongar language is being revitalized and you may encounter it in place names, cultural events, and signage as part of Perth's cultural recognition efforts
- Foreign-born residents comprise about 36% of the greater metropolitan population; most speak English alongside their home language
Top Languages
Mandarin
- Percent Of Greater Perth
- 2.8
- Percent Of City Population
- 8.4
- Status
- second most common language
Spanish
- Percent Of Greater Perth
- 0.6
- Percent Of City Population
- 2.2
- Status
- third most common (tied with Cantonese)
Cantonese
- Percent Of Greater Perth
- 0.9
- Percent Of City Population
- 2.2
- Status
- third most common (tied with Spanish)
Italian
- Percent Of Greater Perth
- 1.1
- Status
- third most common in Greater Perth
Vietnamese
- Status
- commonly spoken
Arabic
- Status
- commonly spoken
Indigenous Languages
Noongar
- Region
- southwest Western Australia including Perth
- Revival Status
- language revitalization efforts underway
- Speaker Count Regional
- 1500
Official Languages
English
- Status
- official
- Description
- Official language used for government, education, and day-to-day communication
Note
37.7% of City of Perth population uses a non-English language at home
English Proficiency
- English Only Speakers Percent
- 52.5
- Data Source
- 2021 Australian Census
- English Proficiency Note
- 3.9% of City of Perth population speaks another language and English not well or not at all
English Friendliness
- Overall Assessment
- Very high — English is the dominant language and sole official language
- Tourist Communication
- English widely spoken; nomads and travelers experience no language barriers for daily interactions
- Multiculturalism Context
- 36% of Perth metropolitan population born overseas; significant immigrant communities; English proficiency generally strong even among non-native speakers
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this language & english friendliness research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Perth
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.