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 Morningside, accounting for 82.4% (9,674 people). This share was higher than Brisbane (C) (71.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 1,145 people and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Morningside - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Morningside 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 Morningside, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
9,674
% of total
82.4%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
9,674
82.4%
+1.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
598
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
598
5.1%
-0.6pp
Spanish
2021 count
155
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
155
1.3%
+0.4pp
Mandarin
2021 count
110
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
110
0.9%
-0.1pp
Hindi
2021 count
77
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
77
0.7%
0.0pp
Portuguese
2021 count
70
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
70
0.6%
+0.1pp
Japanese
2021 count
67
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
67
0.6%
+0.2pp
French
2021 count
61
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
61
0.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
57
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
57
0.5%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
54
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
54
0.5%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,145
+1.6pp
Not stated
0
-0.6pp
Spanish
+59
+0.4pp
Mandarin
+9
-0.1pp
Hindi
-1
0.0pp
Portuguese
+20
+0.1pp
Japanese
+22
+0.2pp
French
+23
+0.1pp
German
+12
+0.1pp
Punjabi
-70
-0.7pp
Data table
Language used at home for Morningside. 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 | 9,674 | 82.4% | 71.6% | 8,529 | 80.8% | 71.8% | +1,145 | +1.6pp |
| Not stated | 598 | 5.1% | 4.4% | 598 | 5.7% | 5.8% | 0 | -0.6pp |
| Spanish | 155 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 96 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +59 | +0.4pp |
| Mandarin | 110 | 0.9% | 4.4% | 101 | 1.0% | 4.1% | +9 | -0.1pp |
| Hindi | 77 | 0.7% | 0.9% | 78 | 0.7% | 0.9% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Portuguese | 70 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 50 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +20 | +0.1pp |
| Japanese | 67 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 45 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +22 | +0.2pp |
| French | 61 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 38 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +23 | +0.1pp |
| German | 57 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 45 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 54 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 124 | 1.2% | 0.9% | -70 | -0.7pp |
| Total | 11,747 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,554 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,193 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.