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 Ceduna (DC), accounting for 83.5% (2,904 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (87.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 181 people and 3.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Language used at home - Ranked by size

Ceduna (DC) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises language used at home for Ceduna (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.

Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ceduna (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.

Ceduna (DC)
Regional SA

English

2021 count

2,904

% of total

83.5%

Change from 2016

+3.5pp

Not stated

2021 count

284

% of total

8.2%

Change from 2016

-5.1pp

Pitjantjatjara

2021 count

75

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Greek

2021 count

44

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Australian Indigenous Languages, nfd

2021 count

34

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Punjabi

2021 count

25

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-

Other Australian Indigenous Languages, nec

2021 count

23

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-

Malayalam

2021 count

16

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Kukatha

2021 count

16

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Aboriginal English, so described

2021 count

10

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Language used at home for Ceduna (DC). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Language used at home for Ceduna (DC). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Language used at home for Ceduna (DC). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
English2,90483.5%87.7%2,72380.0%87.9%+181+3.5pp
Not stated2848.2%6.9%45313.3%7.1%-169-5.1pp
Pitjantjatjara752.2%0.5%351.0%0.5%+40+1.2pp
Greek441.3%0.4%521.5%0.4%-8-0.2pp
Australian Indigenous Languages, nfd341.0%0.1%451.3%0.1%-11-0.3pp
Punjabi250.7%0.3%--0.2%--
Other Australian Indigenous Languages, nec230.7%0.0%--0.0%--
Malayalam160.5%0.0%30.1%0.0%+13+0.4pp
Kukatha160.5%0.0%50.1%0.0%+11+0.4pp
Aboriginal English, so described100.3%0.0%50.1%0.0%+5+0.2pp
Total3,477100.0%100.0%3,404100.0%100.0%+730.0pp

Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.