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 Bayview Heights, accounting for 86.6% (3,626 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (76.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 3,619 people, while its share fell by 13.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bayview Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Bayview Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bayview Heights, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
3,626
% of total
86.6%
Change from 2016
-13.4pp
3,626
86.6%
-13.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
210
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-
210
5.0%
-
Japanese
2021 count
46
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
46
1.1%
-
Italian
2021 count
36
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
36
0.9%
-
Tagalog
2021 count
21
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
21
0.5%
-
Vietnamese
2021 count
20
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
20
0.5%
-
Indonesian
2021 count
17
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
17
0.4%
-
Mandarin
2021 count
16
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
16
0.4%
-
French
2021 count
14
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
14
0.3%
-
Greek
2021 count
13
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
13
0.3%
-
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,619
-13.4pp
Data table
Language used at home for Bayview Heights. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,626 | 86.6% | 76.8% | 7 | 100.0% | 77.7% | +3,619 | -13.4pp |
| Not stated | 210 | 5.0% | 9.2% | - | - | 9.1% | - | - |
| Japanese | 46 | 1.1% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Italian | 36 | 0.9% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Tagalog | 21 | 0.5% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 20 | 0.5% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Indonesian | 17 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Mandarin | 16 | 0.4% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| French | 14 | 0.3% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Greek | 13 | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 4,188 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,181 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.