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 St Lucia, accounting for 63.2% (7,716 people). This share was lower than Brisbane (C) (71.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 816 people and 8.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
St Lucia - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for St Lucia 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 St Lucia, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
7,716
% of total
63.2%
Change from 2016
+8.3pp
7,716
63.2%
+8.3pp
Mandarin
2021 count
1,233
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
1,233
10.1%
-3.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
601
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
601
4.9%
-1.1pp
Cantonese
2021 count
208
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
208
1.7%
-0.7pp
Spanish
2021 count
184
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
184
1.5%
0.0pp
Bengali
2021 count
159
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
159
1.3%
+0.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
146
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
146
1.2%
-0.9pp
Indonesian
2021 count
119
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
119
1.0%
-1.4pp
Japanese
2021 count
111
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
111
0.9%
0.0pp
Malay
2021 count
108
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
108
0.9%
-2.5pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+816
+8.3pp
Mandarin
-513
-3.8pp
Not stated
-152
-1.1pp
Cantonese
-93
-0.7pp
Spanish
-8
0.0pp
Bengali
+66
+0.6pp
Vietnamese
-112
-0.9pp
Indonesian
-181
-1.4pp
Japanese
+2
0.0pp
Malay
-320
-2.5pp
Data table
Language used at home for St Lucia. 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 | 7,716 | 63.2% | 71.6% | 6,900 | 54.9% | 71.8% | +816 | +8.3pp |
| Mandarin | 1,233 | 10.1% | 4.4% | 1,746 | 13.9% | 4.1% | -513 | -3.8pp |
| Not stated | 601 | 4.9% | 4.4% | 753 | 6.0% | 5.8% | -152 | -1.1pp |
| Cantonese | 208 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 301 | 2.4% | 1.5% | -93 | -0.7pp |
| Spanish | 184 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 192 | 1.5% | 0.9% | -8 | 0.0pp |
| Bengali | 159 | 1.3% | 0.2% | 93 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +66 | +0.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 146 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 258 | 2.1% | 1.6% | -112 | -0.9pp |
| Indonesian | 119 | 1.0% | 0.2% | 300 | 2.4% | 0.2% | -181 | -1.4pp |
| Japanese | 111 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 109 | 0.9% | 0.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Malay | 108 | 0.9% | 0.1% | 428 | 3.4% | 0.1% | -320 | -2.5pp |
| Total | 12,201 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,562 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -361 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.