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 St James (WA) (part), accounting for 66.2% (3,211 people). This share was higher than Canning (C) (52.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 298 people and 5.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
St James (WA) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for St James (WA) (part) 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 St James (WA) (part), with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
2021 count
3,211
% of total
66.2%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
3,211
66.2%
+5.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
267
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
267
5.5%
-4.4pp
Mandarin
2021 count
199
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
199
4.1%
-0.2pp
Nepali
2021 count
80
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
80
1.6%
+1.3pp
Other Southern Asian Languages
2021 count
71
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
71
1.5%
+1.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
67
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
67
1.4%
+0.3pp
Urdu
2021 count
59
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
59
1.2%
+0.2pp
Cantonese
2021 count
59
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
59
1.2%
-1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
54
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
54
1.1%
-0.5pp
Korean
2021 count
51
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
51
1.1%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+298
+5.6pp
Not stated
-208
-4.4pp
Mandarin
-6
-0.2pp
Nepali
+66
+1.3pp
Other Southern Asian Languages
+64
+1.4pp
Vietnamese
+16
+0.3pp
Urdu
+10
+0.2pp
Cantonese
-55
-1.2pp
Italian
-23
-0.5pp
Korean
-11
-0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for St James (WA) (part). 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 | 3,211 | 66.2% | 52.9% | 2,913 | 60.6% | 55.5% | +298 | +5.6pp |
| Not stated | 267 | 5.5% | 4.3% | 475 | 9.9% | 4.8% | -208 | -4.4pp |
| Mandarin | 199 | 4.1% | 9.8% | 205 | 4.3% | 9.5% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| Nepali | 80 | 1.6% | 0.9% | 14 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +66 | +1.3pp |
| Other Southern Asian Languages | 71 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 7 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +64 | +1.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 67 | 1.4% | 0.7% | 51 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +16 | +0.3pp |
| Urdu | 59 | 1.2% | 1.4% | 49 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +10 | +0.2pp |
| Cantonese | 59 | 1.2% | 3.3% | 114 | 2.4% | 3.3% | -55 | -1.2pp |
| Italian | 54 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 77 | 1.6% | 0.9% | -23 | -0.5pp |
| Korean | 51 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 62 | 1.3% | 1.4% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 4,852 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,805 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +47 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.