Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Cannington, accounting for 32.5% (2,230 people). This share was lower than Canning (C) (52.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Punjabi, which increased by 434 people and 5.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Cannington - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Cannington in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cannington, with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
Punjabi
Mandarin
Not stated
Indonesian
Arabic
Urdu
Cantonese
Hindi
Nepali
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+201
-1.8pp
Punjabi
+434
+5.5pp
Mandarin
+87
0.0pp
Not stated
+125
+0.8pp
Indonesian
+45
+0.2pp
Arabic
+17
-0.2pp
Urdu
+24
0.0pp
Cantonese
-4
-0.5pp
Hindi
+18
0.0pp
Nepali
+64
+0.8pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Cannington. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Canning (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,230 | 32.5% | 52.9% | 2,029 | 34.3% | 55.5% | +201 | -1.8pp |
| Punjabi | 820 | 12.0% | 3.0% | 386 | 6.5% | 1.8% | +434 | +5.5pp |
| Mandarin | 642 | 9.4% | 9.8% | 555 | 9.4% | 9.5% | +87 | 0.0pp |
| Not stated | 569 | 8.3% | 4.3% | 444 | 7.5% | 4.8% | +125 | +0.8pp |
| Indonesian | 238 | 3.5% | 1.7% | 193 | 3.3% | 1.8% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| Arabic | 202 | 2.9% | 1.5% | 185 | 3.1% | 1.3% | +17 | -0.2pp |
| Urdu | 186 | 2.7% | 1.4% | 162 | 2.7% | 0.9% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Cantonese | 174 | 2.5% | 3.3% | 178 | 3.0% | 3.3% | -4 | -0.5pp |
| Hindi | 151 | 2.2% | 1.4% | 133 | 2.2% | 1.3% | +18 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 121 | 1.8% | 0.9% | 57 | 1.0% | 0.4% | +64 | +0.8pp |
| Total | 6,856 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,918 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +938 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.