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 Devonport (C), accounting for 89.9% (23,499 people). This share was higher than Regional Tas. (88.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 976 people, while its share fell by 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Devonport (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Devonport (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Devonport (C), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
23,499
% of total
89.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
23,499
89.9%
-1.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,179
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,179
4.5%
-1.4pp
Mandarin
2021 count
214
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
214
0.8%
+0.3pp
Nepali
2021 count
177
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
177
0.7%
-
Punjabi
2021 count
95
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
95
0.4%
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
67
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
67
0.3%
+0.2pp
Tongan
2021 count
67
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
67
0.3%
-
Hindi
2021 count
60
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
60
0.2%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
59
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
59
0.2%
0.0pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
59
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
59
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+976
-1.4pp
Not stated
-269
-1.4pp
Mandarin
+103
+0.3pp
Punjabi
+84
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
+54
+0.2pp
Hindi
+32
+0.1pp
Spanish
+12
0.0pp
Sinhalese
+17
0.0pp
Tagalog
+7
0.0pp
Cantonese
+20
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Devonport (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 23,499 | 89.9% | 88.9% | 22,523 | 91.3% | 89.8% | +976 | -1.4pp |
| Not stated | 1,179 | 4.5% | 5.6% | 1,448 | 5.9% | 6.7% | -269 | -1.4pp |
| Mandarin | 214 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 111 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +103 | +0.3pp |
| Nepali | 177 | 0.7% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Punjabi | 95 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 11 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +84 | +0.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 67 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 13 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +54 | +0.2pp |
| Tongan | 67 | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Hindi | 60 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 28 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +32 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 59 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 47 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Sinhalese | 59 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 42 | 0.2% | 0.0% | +17 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 26,142 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,664 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,478 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.