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 Ferny Grove, accounting for 88.6% (5,196 people). This share was higher than Brisbane (C) (71.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 210 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Ferny Grove - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Ferny Grove in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ferny Grove, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
5,196
% of total
88.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
5,196
88.6%
+1.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
131
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
131
2.2%
-1.5pp
Mandarin
2021 count
35
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
0.6%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
32
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
32
0.5%
-0.3pp
Japanese
2021 count
31
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
31
0.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
30
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
30
0.5%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
27
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
27
0.5%
0.0pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
25
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
25
0.4%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
25
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
25
0.4%
-0.1pp
French
2021 count
19
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
19
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+210
+1.4pp
Not stated
-83
-1.5pp
Mandarin
-1
0.0pp
Spanish
-15
-0.3pp
Japanese
+9
+0.1pp
German
+1
0.0pp
Punjabi
-1
0.0pp
Afrikaans
+6
+0.1pp
Italian
-3
-0.1pp
French
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Ferny Grove. 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 | 5,196 | 88.6% | 71.6% | 4,986 | 87.2% | 71.8% | +210 | +1.4pp |
| Not stated | 131 | 2.2% | 4.4% | 214 | 3.7% | 5.8% | -83 | -1.5pp |
| Mandarin | 35 | 0.6% | 4.4% | 36 | 0.6% | 4.1% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 32 | 0.5% | 1.1% | 47 | 0.8% | 0.9% | -15 | -0.3pp |
| Japanese | 31 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 22 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| German | 30 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 29 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 27 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 28 | 0.5% | 0.9% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Afrikaans | 25 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 19 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 25 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 28 | 0.5% | 0.7% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| French | 19 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 14 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 5,862 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,720 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +142 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.