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 Mount Sheridan (Qld), accounting for 77.9% (6,740 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (76.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 196 people, while its share fell by 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Mount Sheridan (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Mount Sheridan (Qld) 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 Mount Sheridan (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
6,740
% of total
77.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
6,740
77.9%
-1.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
464
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
464
5.4%
+0.3pp
Japanese
2021 count
224
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
224
2.6%
+0.3pp
Punjabi
2021 count
126
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
126
1.5%
+0.5pp
Hmong
2021 count
87
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
87
1.0%
-0.3pp
Nepali
2021 count
69
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
69
0.8%
+0.6pp
Tagalog
2021 count
62
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
62
0.7%
0.0pp
Creole, nfd
2021 count
58
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
58
0.7%
+0.4pp
Maori (Cook Island)
2021 count
56
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
56
0.6%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
50
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
50
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+196
-1.6pp
Not stated
+47
+0.3pp
Japanese
+37
+0.3pp
Punjabi
+43
+0.5pp
Hmong
-17
-0.3pp
Nepali
+56
+0.6pp
Tagalog
+3
0.0pp
Creole, nfd
+35
+0.4pp
Maori (Cook Island)
+27
+0.2pp
Filipino
+9
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Mount Sheridan (Qld). 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 | 6,740 | 77.9% | 76.8% | 6,544 | 79.5% | 77.7% | +196 | -1.6pp |
| Not stated | 464 | 5.4% | 9.2% | 417 | 5.1% | 9.1% | +47 | +0.3pp |
| Japanese | 224 | 2.6% | 1.4% | 187 | 2.3% | 1.5% | +37 | +0.3pp |
| Punjabi | 126 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 83 | 1.0% | 0.5% | +43 | +0.5pp |
| Hmong | 87 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 104 | 1.3% | 0.4% | -17 | -0.3pp |
| Nepali | 69 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 13 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +56 | +0.6pp |
| Tagalog | 62 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 59 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Creole, nfd | 58 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 23 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +35 | +0.4pp |
| Maori (Cook Island) | 56 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 29 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 50 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 41 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 8,647 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,233 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +414 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.