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 Fraser Coast (R), accounting for 89.6% (99,403 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 9,336 people and 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Fraser Coast (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Fraser Coast (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fraser Coast (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
99,403
% of total
89.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
99,403
89.6%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
7,345
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
7,345
6.6%
-1.3pp
German
2021 count
398
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
398
0.4%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
240
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
240
0.2%
0.0pp
Tagalog
2021 count
212
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
212
0.2%
0.0pp
Thai
2021 count
188
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
188
0.2%
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
185
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
185
0.2%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
179
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
179
0.2%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
150
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
150
0.1%
-0.1pp
Malayalam
2021 count
138
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
138
0.1%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+9,336
+0.9pp
Not stated
-720
-1.3pp
German
-10
0.0pp
Mandarin
+60
0.0pp
Tagalog
+24
0.0pp
Thai
+78
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
+68
+0.1pp
Filipino
+52
+0.1pp
Dutch
-19
-0.1pp
Malayalam
+80
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Fraser Coast (R). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| English | 99,403 | 89.6% | 83.7% | 90,067 | 88.7% | 84.3% | +9,336 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 7,345 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 8,065 | 7.9% | 7.8% | -720 | -1.3pp |
| German | 398 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 408 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -10 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 240 | 0.2% | 0.7% | 180 | 0.2% | 0.7% | +60 | 0.0pp |
| Tagalog | 212 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 188 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Thai | 188 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 110 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +78 | +0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 185 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 117 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +68 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 179 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 127 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +52 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 150 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 169 | 0.2% | 0.1% | -19 | -0.1pp |
| Malayalam | 138 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 58 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +80 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 110,990 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 101,494 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,496 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.