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 Esperance (S), accounting for 85.1% (11,815 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (80.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 339 people and 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Esperance (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Esperance (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Esperance (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
11,815
% of total
85.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
11,815
85.1%
-0.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,449
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,449
10.4%
-0.9pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
111
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
111
0.8%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
49
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
49
0.4%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
43
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
43
0.3%
+0.2pp
Thai
2021 count
34
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
34
0.2%
0.0pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
26
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26
0.2%
+0.1pp
French
2021 count
25
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
25
0.2%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
20
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-
20
0.1%
-
Italian
2021 count
20
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
20
0.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-339
-0.3pp
Not stated
-155
-0.9pp
Afrikaans
+10
+0.1pp
German
+1
+0.1pp
Filipino
+27
+0.2pp
Thai
+10
0.0pp
Sinhalese
+17
+0.1pp
French
+1
0.0pp
Italian
-6
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
+14
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Esperance (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 | 11,815 | 85.1% | 80.9% | 12,154 | 85.4% | 81.7% | -339 | -0.3pp |
| Not stated | 1,449 | 10.4% | 10.5% | 1,604 | 11.3% | 10.0% | -155 | -0.9pp |
| Afrikaans | 111 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 101 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| German | 49 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 48 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 43 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 16 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Thai | 34 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 24 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Sinhalese | 26 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 9 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +17 | +0.1pp |
| French | 25 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 24 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 20 | 0.1% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Italian | 20 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 26 | 0.2% | 0.5% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 13,882 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,228 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -346 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.