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 Bayswater (C), accounting for 68.2% (47,267 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (74%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 4,927 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bayswater (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Bayswater (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bayswater (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
English
2021 count
47,267
% of total
68.2%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
47,267
68.2%
+2.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,178
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
3,178
4.6%
-1.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,476
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,476
3.6%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
1,864
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,864
2.7%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
1,777
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,777
2.6%
-0.5pp
Cantonese
2021 count
1,296
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,296
1.9%
-0.1pp
Arabic
2021 count
564
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
564
0.8%
+0.1pp
Serbian
2021 count
556
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
556
0.8%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
518
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
518
0.7%
-0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
479
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
479
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,927
+2.7pp
Not stated
-806
-1.6pp
Vietnamese
+297
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+113
0.0pp
Italian
-249
-0.5pp
Cantonese
-22
-0.1pp
Arabic
+97
+0.1pp
Serbian
+96
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+12
-0.1pp
Spanish
+130
+0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Bayswater (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| English | 47,267 | 68.2% | 74.0% | 42,340 | 65.5% | 73.5% | +4,927 | +2.7pp |
| Not stated | 3,178 | 4.6% | 5.1% | 3,984 | 6.2% | 6.4% | -806 | -1.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 2,476 | 3.6% | 1.0% | 2,179 | 3.4% | 1.0% | +297 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 1,864 | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1,751 | 2.7% | 2.3% | +113 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 1,777 | 2.6% | 1.1% | 2,026 | 3.1% | 1.4% | -249 | -0.5pp |
| Cantonese | 1,296 | 1.9% | 0.9% | 1,318 | 2.0% | 1.0% | -22 | -0.1pp |
| Arabic | 564 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 467 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +97 | +0.1pp |
| Serbian | 556 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 460 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +96 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 518 | 0.7% | 0.9% | 506 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +12 | -0.1pp |
| Spanish | 479 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 349 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +130 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 69,269 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 64,633 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,636 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.