Perth sits closer to Jakarta than it does to Canberra, and that geographic reality shapes the city's linguistic character in ways that set it apart from Australia's eastern capitals. While Perth shares many of the same migrant communities found in Sydney and Melbourne, it also has distinctive language patterns driven by its proximity to Southeast Asia, a historically strong British and European migration stream, and the resource industry's global workforce. The most spoken languages in Perth tell the story of a city looking west — towards the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Perth's Language Diversity in Numbers
According to the 2021 ABS Census, approximately 24 per cent of Greater Perth residents speak a language other than English at home. That figure has been climbing steadily with each Census cycle, driven by skilled migration, family reunion and humanitarian intake. The most spoken languages in Perth reflect both legacy European communities and more recent arrivals from Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
The leading non-English languages spoken in the Greater Perth region include:
- Mandarin — approximately 55,000 speakers, the city's largest non-English language group. Suburbs like Cannington and Victoria Park have growing Chinese communities. Our Chinese translation services handle all official documents.
- Italian — around 30,000 speakers, a legacy of Perth's strong post-war Italian migration, particularly to suburbs like Fremantle, Balcatta and Stirling. We offer NAATI certified Italian translation.
- Vietnamese — approximately 25,000 speakers, with established communities in Girrawheen and Westminster. See our Vietnamese translation services.
- Malay — around 20,000 speakers, reflecting Perth's strong ties with Malaysia. This is a notably higher proportion than in eastern cities. Our Malay translation team is NAATI certified.
- Indonesian — approximately 18,000 speakers, another language strengthened by Perth's proximity to Indonesia. We provide Indonesian translation for immigration and official documents.
- Hindi — around 17,000 speakers, with rapid growth in recent Census periods. Our Hindi translation services are available for all document types.
- Tagalog (Filipino) — approximately 16,000 speakers, many working in healthcare, hospitality and the resources sector. See our Tagalog translation page.
- Arabic — around 14,000 speakers. Our Arabic translation covers birth certificates, marriage certificates and more.
- Cantonese — approximately 12,000 speakers with a long-established community.
- Punjabi — around 11,000 speakers, one of the fastest-growing language groups in Perth's outer suburbs. We offer Punjabi translation services.
The Southeast Asian Connection
What makes Perth linguistically distinctive is the prominence of Southeast Asian languages. Malay and Indonesian rank considerably higher in Perth than in any other Australian capital. Decades of student exchange, tourism and business ties between Western Australia and Malaysia and Indonesia have created deep community roots. Many Malaysian and Indonesian families settled in Perth permanently after studying at UWA, Curtin or Murdoch University.
Thai is also well represented in Perth's northern suburbs, and the city has a notable Burmese community that grew through the humanitarian migration program.
European Languages: A Post-War Legacy
Perth's European language communities date primarily to the post-war migration boom. Italian remains the second most spoken non-English language, and Croatian, Serbian, Polish and Greek all maintain significant speaker populations. While these communities are ageing, demand for translation services persists — particularly for estate and probate documents, pension-related paperwork and consular requirements.
For a broader look at language patterns across the state, see our dedicated article on languages spoken in Western Australia.
Resources Sector and Skilled Migration
Perth's economy is heavily influenced by the mining and resources sector, which draws skilled workers from around the world. Engineers, geologists and technicians arriving on employer-sponsored visas from countries like India, the Philippines, South Africa and South America regularly need certified translations of their qualifications, police clearances and identity documents.
This demand extends to driving licence translation — workers posted to remote mine sites in the Pilbara or Goldfields often need their overseas licences translated for Western Australian road use. Urgent same-day delivery is possible for licence translations, with turnaround times of 1–2 hours for vehicle rental use for many European licences.
The fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) nature of much of WA's resources workforce also means that families based in Perth frequently handle immigration paperwork, school enrolments and medical referrals that require translated documents — adding to the steady demand for certified translation services in the city.
Getting Documents Translated in Perth
Whether you are a long-time Perth resident needing Italian documents translated for an estate matter, or a newly arrived skilled worker requiring academic transcripts certified for professional registration, NAATI certified translation is the standard accepted by all Australian government departments. Standard certified translations start from $80, depending on language, volume and layout complexity, and most standard documents are delivered within 24–48 hours.
Our translators have over 10 years' experience across all of the major languages spoken in Perth. To find out the cost and turnaround time for your specific document, request a quote and we will provide a detailed estimate.