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 Wembley (part), accounting for 73% (8,763 people). This share was lower than Cambridge (T) (82.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 654 people and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Wembley (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Wembley (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cambridge (T) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wembley (part), with comparison markers for Cambridge (T).
English
2021 count
8,763
% of total
73.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
8,763
73.0%
+1.5pp
Other Southern Asian Languages
2021 count
647
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
647
5.4%
+2.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
432
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
432
3.6%
-2.8pp
Mandarin
2021 count
352
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
352
2.9%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
135
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
135
1.1%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
127
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
127
1.1%
+0.3pp
Cantonese
2021 count
110
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
110
0.9%
+0.2pp
Nepali
2021 count
108
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
108
0.9%
+0.5pp
French
2021 count
88
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
88
0.7%
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
73
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
73
0.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+654
+1.5pp
Other Southern Asian Languages
+313
+2.5pp
Not stated
-299
-2.8pp
Mandarin
+70
+0.4pp
Italian
+18
+0.1pp
Spanish
+41
+0.3pp
Cantonese
+27
+0.2pp
Nepali
+59
+0.5pp
French
+1
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Wembley (part). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cambridge (T).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cambridge (T)% | Count | % | Cambridge (T)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,763 | 73.0% | 82.5% | 8,109 | 71.5% | 81.1% | +654 | +1.5pp |
| Other Southern Asian Languages | 647 | 5.4% | 0.2% | 334 | 2.9% | 0.0% | +313 | +2.5pp |
| Not stated | 432 | 3.6% | 3.0% | 731 | 6.4% | 5.1% | -299 | -2.8pp |
| Mandarin | 352 | 2.9% | 2.3% | 282 | 2.5% | 1.8% | +70 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 135 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 117 | 1.0% | 1.4% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 127 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 86 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +41 | +0.3pp |
| Cantonese | 110 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 83 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Nepali | 108 | 0.9% | 0.2% | 49 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +59 | +0.5pp |
| French | 88 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 87 | 0.8% | 0.9% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 73 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 68 | 0.6% | 0.3% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 11,998 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,349 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +649 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.