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 Clarence (C), accounting for 86.9% (53,422 people). This share was higher than Greater Hobart (82.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 3,950 people, while its share fell by 3.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Clarence (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Clarence (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Hobart and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Clarence (C), with comparison markers for Greater Hobart.
English
2021 count
53,422
% of total
86.9%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
53,422
86.9%
-3.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
2,939
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,939
4.8%
-0.9pp
Mandarin
2021 count
893
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
893
1.5%
+1.1pp
Nepali
2021 count
736
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
736
1.2%
+1.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
370
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
370
0.6%
+0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
241
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
241
0.4%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
187
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
187
0.3%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
182
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
182
0.3%
+0.2pp
Cantonese
2021 count
176
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
176
0.3%
+0.2pp
Urdu
2021 count
147
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
147
0.2%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,950
-3.4pp
Not stated
-173
-0.9pp
Mandarin
+678
+1.1pp
Nepali
+636
+1.0pp
Punjabi
+295
+0.5pp
Greek
+5
0.0pp
Spanish
+87
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
+149
+0.2pp
Cantonese
+109
+0.2pp
Urdu
+134
+0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Clarence (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Hobart.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | pp | |
| English | 53,422 | 86.9% | 82.6% | 49,472 | 90.3% | 86.5% | +3,950 | -3.4pp |
| Not stated | 2,939 | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3,112 | 5.7% | 5.8% | -173 | -0.9pp |
| Mandarin | 893 | 1.5% | 2.6% | 215 | 0.4% | 1.3% | +678 | +1.1pp |
| Nepali | 736 | 1.2% | 1.8% | 100 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +636 | +1.0pp |
| Punjabi | 370 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 75 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +295 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 241 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 236 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 187 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 100 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +87 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 182 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 33 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +149 | +0.2pp |
| Cantonese | 176 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 67 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +109 | +0.2pp |
| Urdu | 147 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 13 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +134 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 61,496 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 54,771 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,725 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.