Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
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.
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 The Basin (Vic.), accounting for 88.1% (3,955 people). This share was higher than Knox (C) (68%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 131 people and 1.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
The Basin (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for The Basin (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for The Basin (Vic.), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
English
Not stated
German
Mandarin
Italian
Sinhalese
Dutch
Japanese
French
Spanish
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+131
+1.3pp
Not stated
-82
-2.0pp
German
-36
-0.8pp
Mandarin
+27
+0.6pp
Italian
-1
0.0pp
Sinhalese
+13
+0.3pp
Dutch
-7
-0.2pp
Japanese
+9
+0.2pp
French
-3
-0.1pp
Spanish
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for The Basin (Vic.). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,955 | 88.1% | 68.0% | 3,824 | 86.8% | 71.1% | +131 | +1.3pp |
| Not stated | 168 | 3.7% | 3.3% | 250 | 5.7% | 3.8% | -82 | -2.0pp |
| German | 79 | 1.8% | 0.5% | 115 | 2.6% | 0.7% | -36 | -0.8pp |
| Mandarin | 50 | 1.1% | 7.3% | 23 | 0.5% | 5.2% | +27 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 23 | 0.5% | 0.9% | 24 | 0.5% | 1.2% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Sinhalese | 21 | 0.5% | 1.7% | 8 | 0.2% | 1.3% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 13 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 20 | 0.5% | 0.2% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Japanese | 13 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| French | 11 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Spanish | 10 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 4,489 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,406 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +83 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.