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 Bulimba, accounting for 84.4% (6,429 people). This share was higher than Brisbane (C) (71.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 757 people and 2 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bulimba - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Bulimba in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bulimba, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
Not stated
Spanish
Portuguese
Mandarin
German
French
Italian
Russian
Afrikaans
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+757
+2.0pp
Not stated
-233
-3.8pp
Spanish
+57
+0.7pp
Portuguese
+52
+0.6pp
Mandarin
+19
+0.1pp
German
+10
0.0pp
French
+7
0.0pp
Italian
-6
-0.1pp
Russian
+5
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
+2
-0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Bulimba. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,429 | 84.4% | 71.6% | 5,672 | 82.4% | 71.8% | +757 | +2.0pp |
| Not stated | 293 | 3.8% | 4.4% | 526 | 7.6% | 5.8% | -233 | -3.8pp |
| Spanish | 122 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 65 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +57 | +0.7pp |
| Portuguese | 91 | 1.2% | 0.4% | 39 | 0.6% | 0.3% | +52 | +0.6pp |
| Mandarin | 78 | 1.0% | 4.4% | 59 | 0.9% | 4.1% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| German | 55 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 45 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| French | 45 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 38 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 42 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 48 | 0.7% | 0.7% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Russian | 35 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 30 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 34 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 32 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +2 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 7,615 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,881 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +734 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.