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 Kwinana (C), accounting for 70.7% (32,453 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (74%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 4,641 people, while its share fell by 0.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Kwinana (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Kwinana (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kwinana (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
English
2021 count
32,453
% of total
70.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
32,453
70.7%
-0.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,602
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
3,602
7.8%
-1.7pp
Tagalog
2021 count
1,394
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,394
3.0%
+0.7pp
Punjabi
2021 count
1,065
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,065
2.3%
+1.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
958
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
958
2.1%
+0.5pp
Mandarin
2021 count
400
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
400
0.9%
-0.3pp
Hindi
2021 count
369
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
369
0.8%
0.0pp
Malayalam
2021 count
274
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
274
0.6%
+0.1pp
Shona
2021 count
262
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
262
0.6%
+0.2pp
Spanish
2021 count
260
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
260
0.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,641
-0.8pp
Not stated
-84
-1.7pp
Tagalog
+515
+0.7pp
Punjabi
+549
+1.0pp
Filipino
+331
+0.5pp
Mandarin
-50
-0.3pp
Hindi
+51
0.0pp
Malayalam
+70
+0.1pp
Shona
+103
+0.2pp
Spanish
+21
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Kwinana (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| English | 32,453 | 70.7% | 74.0% | 27,812 | 71.5% | 73.5% | +4,641 | -0.8pp |
| Not stated | 3,602 | 7.8% | 5.1% | 3,686 | 9.5% | 6.4% | -84 | -1.7pp |
| Tagalog | 1,394 | 3.0% | 0.7% | 879 | 2.3% | 0.6% | +515 | +0.7pp |
| Punjabi | 1,065 | 2.3% | 0.9% | 516 | 1.3% | 0.6% | +549 | +1.0pp |
| Filipino | 958 | 2.1% | 0.5% | 627 | 1.6% | 0.4% | +331 | +0.5pp |
| Mandarin | 400 | 0.9% | 2.3% | 450 | 1.2% | 2.3% | -50 | -0.3pp |
| Hindi | 369 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 318 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +51 | 0.0pp |
| Malayalam | 274 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 204 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +70 | +0.1pp |
| Shona | 262 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 159 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +103 | +0.2pp |
| Spanish | 260 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 239 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +21 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 45,891 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 38,922 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,969 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.