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 Dardanup (S), accounting for 88.1% (12,934 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (80.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 506 people, while its share fell by 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Dardanup (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Dardanup (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dardanup (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
12,934
% of total
88.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
12,934
88.1%
-0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
822
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
822
5.6%
-0.6pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
94
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
94
0.6%
+0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
64
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
64
0.4%
+0.2pp
Tagalog
2021 count
57
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
57
0.4%
+0.2pp
Malay
2021 count
55
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
55
0.4%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
53
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
53
0.4%
0.0pp
Malayalam
2021 count
35
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
0.2%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
34
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
34
0.2%
0.0pp
Thai
2021 count
30
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
30
0.2%
+0.1pp
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+506
-0.7pp
Not stated
-51
-0.6pp
Afrikaans
+29
+0.1pp
Mandarin
+37
+0.2pp
Tagalog
+28
+0.2pp
Malay
-5
0.0pp
Italian
+2
0.0pp
Malayalam
+12
0.0pp
Punjabi
+11
0.0pp
Thai
+17
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Dardanup (S). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 12,934 | 88.1% | 80.9% | 12,428 | 88.8% | 81.7% | +506 | -0.7pp |
| Not stated | 822 | 5.6% | 10.5% | 873 | 6.2% | 10.0% | -51 | -0.6pp |
| Afrikaans | 94 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 65 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +29 | +0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 64 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 27 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +37 | +0.2pp |
| Tagalog | 57 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 29 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +28 | +0.2pp |
| Malay | 55 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 60 | 0.4% | 0.2% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 53 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 51 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Malayalam | 35 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 23 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 34 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 23 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Thai | 30 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 13 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +17 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 14,678 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,994 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +684 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.