Number of Indigenous languages spoken (2018-19)
Survey received responses for 141 language varieties. This means there are a number of language varieties with no data.
Survey did not receive a response for languages known to have many speakers. These languages include Anmatyerr, Burrara, Tiwi and Aboriginal English.
In most cases, AIATSIS received one response per language variety. If there was more than one response, sometimes these answers conflicted. When this happened, the AIATSIS Languages team made an informed choice about which answers to accept.
Some respondents counted only 'full' speakers. Other respondents counted all 'full', 'part' and 'little' speakers.
Survey only reported on spoken languages. It did not report on signed languages. There are many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sign languages. "Strong" languages do not include creole.