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 Brighton (M), accounting for 91.1% (17,299 people). This share was higher than Greater Hobart (82.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,210 people, while its share fell by 0.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Brighton (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Brighton (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Hobart and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brighton (M), with comparison markers for Greater Hobart.
English
2021 count
17,299
% of total
91.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
17,299
91.1%
-0.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,065
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,065
5.6%
-1.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
50
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
50
0.3%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
49
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
49
0.3%
+0.3pp
Urdu
2021 count
39
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
39
0.2%
+0.2pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
31
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
31
0.2%
-
German
2021 count
29
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
29
0.2%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
26
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26
0.1%
+0.1pp
Indonesian
2021 count
24
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-
24
0.1%
-
Greek
2021 count
21
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
21
0.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,210
-0.4pp
Not stated
-48
-1.2pp
Mandarin
+19
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+43
+0.3pp
Urdu
+35
+0.2pp
German
+6
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
+21
+0.1pp
Greek
-4
-0.1pp
Polish
0
0.0pp
Arabic
+17
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Brighton (M). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Hobart.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | pp | |
| English | 17,299 | 91.1% | 82.6% | 15,089 | 91.5% | 86.5% | +2,210 | -0.4pp |
| Not stated | 1,065 | 5.6% | 4.6% | 1,113 | 6.8% | 5.8% | -48 | -1.2pp |
| Mandarin | 50 | 0.3% | 2.6% | 31 | 0.2% | 1.3% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 49 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 6 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +43 | +0.3pp |
| Urdu | 39 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 4 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +35 | +0.2pp |
| Sinhalese | 31 | 0.2% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| German | 29 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 23 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 26 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 5 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +21 | +0.1pp |
| Indonesian | 24 | 0.1% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Greek | 21 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 25 | 0.2% | 0.5% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 18,996 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,488 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,508 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.