New national data has established the first Indigenous-led baseline for measuring progress on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages under the Closing the Gap framework, with communities continuing efforts to strengthen, revive and maintain hundreds of languages.
Delivered by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in partnership with the Languages Policy Partnership (LPP) and the community-controlled sector, the fourth National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS4) identified 177 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages currently being spoken or used across Australia.
The survey — one of the few community-led data sources used to measure progress under the Closing the Gap agreement — also found 113 languages are undergoing revival, revitalisation or reawakening, highlighting ongoing efforts by communities to maintain and pass languages on to future generations.
The Productivity Commission's 2026 Annual Data Compilation Report, to be released on Wednesday evening, uses NILS4 data to establish a new baseline for Target 16 of Closing the Gap, which calls for a sustained increase in the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.
AIATSIS chief executive Leonard Hill said the survey demonstrated the importance of First Nations communities leading decisions about their languages.
"When the Priority Reforms are truly enacted, the result is positive outcomes for Indigenous communities, governments and the wider Australian public," he said.
"NILS4 provides data that communities can use to support their own language goals, strengthen advocacy efforts and inform future investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages."
The survey received 269 responses representing 178 languages, with 92 per cent of languages represented through a community-led response, a significant increase from 26 per cent in the previous survey.
More than 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives contributed to the co-design of NILS4, including Elders, teachers, interpreters, language workers, deaf people and sign language users, linguists and government representatives, whilst over 50 community organisations also supported the survey across their regions.
AIATSIS Centre for Australian Languages director, Lauren Reed, said the findings highlight both the strength of First Nations languages and the "extraordinary work communities are undertaking to revitalise them".
"We found that there are at least 113 languages that are being revived, revitalised or reawakened through community-led activities such as language classes, on-Country learning, recording Elders and developing language resources," she said.
However, the survey revealed 24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages reported no speakers or users under the age of 20, highlighting the need for continued support for the next generation of speakers.
"Findings from NILS4 provide new insight into the significant growth of the languages sector, as well as the continued oppression and profound challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages," Ms Reed said.
"The strength of the response reflects the commitment of communities across Australia to maintaining, revitalising and passing languages on to future generations."
