Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
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.
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 Ashburton (S), accounting for 69.8% (5,167 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (80.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 4,227 people and 2.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Ashburton (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Ashburton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ashburton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
Not stated
Banyjima
Thai
Tagalog
Maori (New Zealand)
Filipino
Indonesian
Mandarin
Sinhalese
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4,227
-2.6pp
Not stated
-724
+2.7pp
Banyjima
+13
+0.6pp
Thai
+17
+0.4pp
Tagalog
-109
-0.6pp
Maori (New Zealand)
-7
+0.2pp
Filipino
-53
-0.1pp
Indonesian
-2
+0.2pp
Mandarin
-57
-0.3pp
Sinhalese
+6
+0.2pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Ashburton (S). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,167 | 69.8% | 80.9% | 9,394 | 72.4% | 81.7% | -4,227 | -2.6pp |
| Not stated | 1,419 | 19.2% | 10.5% | 2,143 | 16.5% | 10.0% | -724 | +2.7pp |
| Banyjima | 83 | 1.1% | 0.0% | 70 | 0.5% | 0.0% | +13 | +0.6pp |
| Thai | 50 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 33 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +17 | +0.4pp |
| Tagalog | 48 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 157 | 1.2% | 0.6% | -109 | -0.6pp |
| Maori (New Zealand) | 48 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 55 | 0.4% | 0.1% | -7 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 44 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 97 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -53 | -0.1pp |
| Indonesian | 39 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 41 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -2 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 30 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 87 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -57 | -0.3pp |
| Sinhalese | 23 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 17 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 7,403 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,981 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -5,578 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.