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 Cairns (R), accounting for 76.8% (128,138 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 6,305 people, while its share fell by 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Cairns (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
128,138
% of total
76.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
128,138
76.8%
-0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
15,333
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
15,333
9.2%
+0.1pp
Japanese
2021 count
2,364
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,364
1.4%
-0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
1,128
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,128
0.7%
0.0pp
Nepali
2021 count
1,107
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,107
0.7%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
1,067
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,067
0.6%
+0.1pp
Creole, nfd
2021 count
999
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
999
0.6%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
971
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
971
0.6%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
909
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
909
0.5%
-0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
844
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
844
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+6,305
-0.9pp
Not stated
+1,124
+0.1pp
Japanese
-11
-0.1pp
Mandarin
-36
0.0pp
Nepali
+264
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+217
+0.1pp
Creole, nfd
+118
0.0pp
Italian
-122
-0.1pp
German
-65
-0.1pp
Tagalog
+61
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Cairns (R). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| English | 128,138 | 76.8% | 83.7% | 121,833 | 77.7% | 84.3% | +6,305 | -0.9pp |
| Not stated | 15,333 | 9.2% | 7.4% | 14,209 | 9.1% | 7.8% | +1,124 | +0.1pp |
| Japanese | 2,364 | 1.4% | 0.4% | 2,375 | 1.5% | 0.4% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 1,128 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1,164 | 0.7% | 0.7% | -36 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 1,107 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 843 | 0.5% | 0.1% | +264 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 1,067 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 850 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +217 | +0.1pp |
| Creole, nfd | 999 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 881 | 0.6% | 0.1% | +118 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 971 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 1,093 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -122 | -0.1pp |
| German | 909 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 974 | 0.6% | 0.4% | -65 | -0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 844 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 783 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +61 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 166,951 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 156,856 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,095 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.