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 West Leederville, accounting for 78.5% (3,398 people). This share was lower than Cambridge (T) (82.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 439 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
West Leederville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for West Leederville 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 West Leederville, with comparison markers for Cambridge (T).
English
2021 count
3,398
% of total
78.5%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
3,398
78.5%
+2.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
218
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
218
5.0%
-2.2pp
Italian
2021 count
73
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
73
1.7%
-0.8pp
Mandarin
2021 count
71
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
71
1.6%
+0.2pp
French
2021 count
49
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
49
1.1%
+0.2pp
Spanish
2021 count
40
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
40
0.9%
+0.1pp
Nepali
2021 count
30
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
30
0.7%
0.0pp
Japanese
2021 count
30
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
30
0.7%
-0.2pp
Portuguese
2021 count
27
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
27
0.6%
-0.3pp
Cantonese
2021 count
26
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
26
0.6%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+439
+2.7pp
Not stated
-64
-2.2pp
Italian
-25
-0.8pp
Mandarin
+18
+0.2pp
French
+13
+0.2pp
Spanish
+10
+0.1pp
Nepali
+3
0.0pp
Japanese
-4
-0.2pp
Portuguese
-8
-0.3pp
Cantonese
0
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for West Leederville. 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 | 3,398 | 78.5% | 82.5% | 2,959 | 75.8% | 81.1% | +439 | +2.7pp |
| Not stated | 218 | 5.0% | 3.0% | 282 | 7.2% | 5.1% | -64 | -2.2pp |
| Italian | 73 | 1.7% | 1.3% | 98 | 2.5% | 1.4% | -25 | -0.8pp |
| Mandarin | 71 | 1.6% | 2.3% | 53 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| French | 49 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 36 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Spanish | 40 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 30 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Nepali | 30 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 27 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Japanese | 30 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 34 | 0.9% | 0.5% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Portuguese | 27 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 35 | 0.9% | 0.4% | -8 | -0.3pp |
| Cantonese | 26 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 26 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 4,330 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,901 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +429 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.