Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
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.
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 Brinsmead, accounting for 84.3% (4,667 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (76.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 165 people and 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Brinsmead - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Brinsmead 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 Brinsmead, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
Not stated
Japanese
Korean
Cantonese
German
Mandarin
French
Italian
Afrikaans
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+165
+0.3pp
Not stated
-42
-0.9pp
Japanese
-15
-0.4pp
Korean
+4
+0.1pp
Cantonese
-9
-0.2pp
German
-2
-0.1pp
Mandarin
+5
+0.1pp
French
+18
+0.4pp
Italian
-8
-0.1pp
Afrikaans
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Brinsmead. 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 | 4,667 | 84.3% | 76.8% | 4,502 | 84.0% | 77.7% | +165 | +0.3pp |
| Not stated | 244 | 4.4% | 9.2% | 286 | 5.3% | 9.1% | -42 | -0.9pp |
| Japanese | 107 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 122 | 2.3% | 1.5% | -15 | -0.4pp |
| Korean | 44 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 40 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Cantonese | 37 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 46 | 0.9% | 0.3% | -9 | -0.2pp |
| German | 35 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 37 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 33 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 28 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| French | 26 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +18 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 26 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 34 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 18 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 13 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 5,538 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,362 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +176 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.