Cultural diversity
Language used at home
About this topic
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
This topic is useful for planning communication, multicultural services, and local engagement. It should be analysed together with proficiency in English and birthplace, because language alone does not show migration history or support needs.
Interpretation notes
- The Census records the language used most often at home, so it does not capture every language a person can speak.
- Language used at home is not a measure of English proficiency, literacy, or migration history on its own.
Key insight
In 2021, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Adelaide Hills (DC), accounting for 90.5% (37,020 people). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (74.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,088 people and 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Adelaide Hills (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Adelaide Hills (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide Hills (DC), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
English
2021 count
37,020
% of total
90.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
37,020
90.5%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,609
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,609
3.9%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
250
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
250
0.6%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
248
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
248
0.6%
-0.3pp
Mandarin
2021 count
227
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
227
0.6%
+0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
111
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
111
0.3%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
100
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
100
0.2%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
97
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
97
0.2%
0.0pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
82
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
82
0.2%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
81
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
81
0.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,088
+0.6pp
Not stated
-149
-0.6pp
German
-54
-0.2pp
Italian
-97
-0.3pp
Mandarin
+104
+0.3pp
Polish
-3
0.0pp
French
+11
0.0pp
Spanish
+9
0.0pp
Afrikaans
0
0.0pp
Greek
-18
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Adelaide Hills (DC). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | pp | |
| English | 37,020 | 90.5% | 74.8% | 34,932 | 89.9% | 75.4% | +2,088 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 1,609 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 1,758 | 4.5% | 4.9% | -149 | -0.6pp |
| German | 250 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 304 | 0.8% | 0.4% | -54 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 248 | 0.6% | 1.6% | 345 | 0.9% | 2.1% | -97 | -0.3pp |
| Mandarin | 227 | 0.6% | 2.2% | 123 | 0.3% | 2.1% | +104 | +0.3pp |
| Polish | 111 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 114 | 0.3% | 0.4% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| French | 100 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 89 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 97 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 88 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Afrikaans | 82 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 82 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 81 | 0.2% | 1.5% | 99 | 0.3% | 1.7% | -18 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 40,888 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 38,856 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,032 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.