Why it matters
Language data needs one standard
ASCL keeps language coding consistent across census, service delivery and administrative collections. Without a standard, language data becomes hard to compare over time.
ASCL 2025 | Languages
Australian Standard Classification of Languages
ASCL is the ABS language standard used to code languages spoken in Australia. The 2025 release reworked the hierarchy, added new stand-alone languages and refreshed the coding index for modern use.
Hierarchy at a glance
| Level | Code | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Family Group | 2 digits | 16 | Highest level of the 2025 hierarchy. |
| Sub Family Group | 4 digits | 49 | Grouped by closely related languages. |
| Narrow Group | 6 digits | 95 | Ordered by similarity of origin and geography. |
| Language | 8 digits | 444 | Base level, including nec categories. |
What changed in 2025
- A new four-level hierarchy now runs across the whole classification.
- Sixty-two new stand-alone languages were created, including many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
- Forty-one languages received label changes.
- Forty-three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were linked to an existing language group.
- Seventeen languages were retired to an appropriate nec category.
Parsed from ABS release
Language family groups
These are the top-level ASCL family groups exposed from the 2025 release structure. This makes the hierarchy visible on-site instead of leaving the page as a summary only.
11
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
Language family group
12Creoles and Pidgins
Language family group
13Indo-European Languages
Language family group
14Uralic Languages
Language family group
15Afro-Asiatic Languages
Language family group
16Turkic Languages
Language family group
17Niger-Congo Languages
Language family group
18Nilo-Saharan Languages
Language family group
21Dravidian Languages
Language family group
22Language isolates
Language family group
23Sino-Tibetan Languages
Language family group
24Hmong-Mien Languages
Language family group
25Austro-Asiatic Languages
Language family group
26Kra-Dai Languages
Language family group
27Austronesian Languages
Language family group
91Other Languages
Language family group
What ASCL is used for
The ABS uses ASCL for data on languages spoken in Australia. That covers language spoken at home, census collections, administrative systems and downstream reporting where language needs a stable code.
The 2025 release is the fifth revision since ASCL was first established in 1997. The revision updated the hierarchy into the current two-digit, four-digit, six-digit and eight-digit pattern.
Scope and boundary notes
- Used for the collection, storage and dissemination of statistical and administrative data on languages spoken in Australia.
- Includes sign languages and other languages used in the Australian community.
- Excludes computer languages and other non-human communication systems.
- Genetic affinity is the main organising principle for the broader levels of the classification.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the 2025 release matter?
It introduced a new four-level hierarchy and a much larger detailed language structure, which improves coding accuracy and makes the classification more useful for current Australian data.
Should I use ASCL for language spoken at home?
Yes. ASCL is the ABS standard behind language coding in Australia, including data collected about the language spoken at home.
Can one language code point to multiple older codes?
Sometimes. The correspondence tables are there for exactly that reason, especially when older 2016 codes need to be mapped into the 2025 structure.
Source and trust
- Official ASCL source
- ABS ASCL 2025
- Last reviewed
- 2026-04-18
This page is an independent reference summary. For exact coding decisions, verify against the ABS release and correspondence tables.
Please verify critical classification decisions with the official authority before using them for tax, payroll, licensing, immigration or compliance work.
2025 review
Major update, not a minor tweak
The 2025 release introduced a new four-level structure and substantial changes at the language level to better reflect current Australian usage.
Related links