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 Ballarat (C), accounting for 88.1% (100,172 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (86.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 10,175 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Ballarat (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Ballarat (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ballarat (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
100,172
% of total
88.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
100,172
88.1%
-0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
5,612
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
5,612
4.9%
-1.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
968
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
968
0.9%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
764
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
764
0.7%
+0.5pp
Malayalam
2021 count
466
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
466
0.4%
+0.2pp
Hindi
2021 count
387
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
387
0.3%
+0.1pp
Urdu
2021 count
233
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
233
0.2%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
227
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
227
0.2%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
221
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
221
0.2%
+0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
220
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
220
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+10,175
-0.5pp
Not stated
-578
-1.2pp
Mandarin
+114
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+516
+0.5pp
Malayalam
+233
+0.2pp
Hindi
+163
+0.1pp
Urdu
+142
+0.1pp
Spanish
+123
+0.1pp
Filipino
+88
+0.1pp
Tagalog
+51
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Ballarat (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 100,172 | 88.1% | 86.4% | 89,997 | 88.6% | 86.6% | +10,175 | -0.5pp |
| Not stated | 5,612 | 4.9% | 6.5% | 6,190 | 6.1% | 7.4% | -578 | -1.2pp |
| Mandarin | 968 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 854 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +114 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 764 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 248 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +516 | +0.5pp |
| Malayalam | 466 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 233 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +233 | +0.2pp |
| Hindi | 387 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 224 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +163 | +0.1pp |
| Urdu | 233 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 91 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +142 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 227 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 104 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +123 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 221 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 133 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +88 | +0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 220 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 169 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +51 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 113,714 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 101,622 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,092 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.