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 Brisbane (C), accounting for 71.6% (890,403 people). This share was lower than Greater Brisbane (77.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 78,205 people, while its share fell by 0.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Brisbane (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Brisbane (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brisbane (C), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
English
Mandarin
Not stated
Vietnamese
Cantonese
Spanish
Punjabi
Korean
Hindi
Arabic
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+78,205
-0.2pp
Mandarin
+8,568
+0.3pp
Not stated
-10,998
-1.4pp
Vietnamese
+3,094
+0.1pp
Cantonese
+1,625
0.0pp
Spanish
+3,543
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+2,854
+0.1pp
Korean
+610
-0.1pp
Hindi
+909
0.0pp
Arabic
+748
0.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Brisbane (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| English | 890,403 | 71.6% | 77.3% | 812,198 | 71.8% | 78.0% | +78,205 | -0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 55,271 | 4.4% | 2.5% | 46,703 | 4.1% | 2.4% | +8,568 | +0.3pp |
| Not stated | 54,743 | 4.4% | 5.0% | 65,741 | 5.8% | 5.9% | -10,998 | -1.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 21,679 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 18,585 | 1.6% | 1.0% | +3,094 | +0.1pp |
| Cantonese | 18,621 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 16,996 | 1.5% | 0.9% | +1,625 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 14,082 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 10,539 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +3,543 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 12,805 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 9,951 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +2,854 | +0.1pp |
| Korean | 11,688 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 11,078 | 1.0% | 0.6% | +610 | -0.1pp |
| Hindi | 10,759 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 9,850 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +909 | 0.0pp |
| Arabic | 7,229 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 6,481 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +748 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 1,242,815 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,131,122 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +111,693 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.