Francophonie in Australia: Statistics from the 2021 Census

Discover the statistics of francophonie in Australia through the 2021 Census with Matilda Marseillaise!

Written by Matilda Marseillaise

03 Aug 2022

2 min read

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Francophonie in Australia:
Statistics from the 2021 census

Statistics from the 2021 Census are being released progressively over the next year. In the latest tranche of 2021 census stats, we are able to see a snapshot of the Francophonie in Australia. We’ve condensed them into charts below.

 

The majority of those who speak French at home in Australia are found in NSW but French is spoken at home across all Australian States and Territories.

 

The majority of people born in France who were living in Australia at the 2021 Census date are 50-65 with the 40-49 age group only just behind. 50% of people born in France in Australia at the census date were over 40.

 

The majority of people born in Belgium (includes both Wallonia and Flanders) who were living in Australia at the 2021 Census date are over 65. The other age ranges are significantly lower.

 

New Caledonia, not surprisingly given its geographical proximity, is the main place of birth for people born in French Overseas Territories in Australia.

 

The majority of people in Australia who were born in New Caledonia are in the over 65 age group.

 

France makes it into the top 10 EU countries of birth of people in Australia at the 2021 Census just ahead of Malta.

 

After France, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo make up the majority of people living in Australia that were born in a country where French is the official language.

 

Canada, Switzerland and Belgium, as expected due to their size, make up the top countries of birth where French is one of the official languages. The top 6 countries of birth where French is one of the official languages is rounded out by Vanuatu, Burundi and Seychelles.

 

What else would you like to know about the Australian Census 2021?

Matilda Marseillaise

Matilda Marseillaise, affectionately known as MM, is a bilingual (French and English) website about all things French and francophone in Australia. The site’s creator and writer has travelled the world and has lived in France and Belgium but currently calls Australia her permanent home. Learning French from a young age, she went on to study it at university level and had a strong interest and passion for French culture. While she no longer lives in France or Belgium, she has kept the French joie de vivre in her Aussie life.

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