Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Bentley Park, accounting for 79.3% (6,617 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (76.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 152 people, while its share fell by 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bentley Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Bentley Park 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 Bentley Park, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
Not stated
Hmong
Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)
Japanese
Maori (Cook Island)
Creole, nfd
Tagalog
Italian
Punjabi
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+152
-1.4pp
Not stated
+24
0.0pp
Hmong
+47
+0.5pp
Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)
+18
+0.2pp
Japanese
+19
+0.2pp
Maori (Cook Island)
+8
+0.1pp
Creole, nfd
-3
-0.1pp
Tagalog
+18
+0.2pp
Italian
-8
-0.1pp
Punjabi
+13
+0.2pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Bentley Park. 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 | 6,617 | 79.3% | 76.8% | 6,465 | 80.7% | 77.7% | +152 | -1.4pp |
| Not stated | 622 | 7.5% | 9.2% | 598 | 7.5% | 9.1% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Hmong | 224 | 2.7% | 0.4% | 177 | 2.2% | 0.4% | +47 | +0.5pp |
| Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) | 73 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 55 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| Japanese | 68 | 0.8% | 1.4% | 49 | 0.6% | 1.5% | +19 | +0.2pp |
| Maori (Cook Island) | 68 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 60 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Creole, nfd | 67 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 70 | 0.9% | 0.6% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 62 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 44 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 38 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 46 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 38 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 25 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 8,348 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,012 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +336 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.