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 Bulgarra, accounting for 72.1% (2,122 people). This share was higher than Karratha (C) (70.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 117 people, while its share fell by 3.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bulgarra - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Bulgarra in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bulgarra, with comparison markers for Karratha (C).
English
2021 count
2,122
% of total
72.1%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
2,122
72.1%
-3.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
495
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
495
16.8%
+4.9pp
Tagalog
2021 count
37
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
37
1.3%
-0.6pp
Thai
2021 count
32
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
32
1.1%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
26
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
26
0.9%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
17
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
17
0.6%
-0.8pp
French
2021 count
14
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
14
0.5%
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
13
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
13
0.4%
-
Burmese
2021 count
12
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
12
0.4%
+0.3pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
11
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
0.4%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+117
-3.8pp
Not stated
+181
+4.9pp
Tagalog
-13
-0.6pp
Thai
+9
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+8
+0.2pp
Filipino
-20
-0.8pp
French
+7
+0.2pp
Burmese
+9
+0.3pp
Afrikaans
0
0.0pp
Hindi
+7
+0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Bulgarra. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,122 | 72.1% | 70.4% | 2,005 | 75.9% | 74.7% | +117 | -3.8pp |
| Not stated | 495 | 16.8% | 17.3% | 314 | 11.9% | 12.9% | +181 | +4.9pp |
| Tagalog | 37 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 50 | 1.9% | 1.3% | -13 | -0.6pp |
| Thai | 32 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 23 | 0.9% | 0.5% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 26 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 18 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 17 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 37 | 1.4% | 0.9% | -20 | -0.8pp |
| French | 14 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 7 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 13 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Burmese | 12 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| Afrikaans | 11 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 11 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 2,942 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,642 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +300 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.