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 Launceston (C), accounting for 84.1% (58,910 people). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (88.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,892 people, while its share fell by 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Launceston (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Launceston (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Launceston (C), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
58,910
% of total
84.1%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
58,910
84.1%
-1.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,561
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
3,561
5.1%
-2.0pp
Nepali
2021 count
1,822
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,822
2.6%
+1.4pp
Mandarin
2021 count
885
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
885
1.3%
+0.3pp
Punjabi
2021 count
380
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
380
0.5%
+0.4pp
Urdu
2021 count
284
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
284
0.4%
+0.4pp
Gujarati
2021 count
208
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
208
0.3%
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
200
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
200
0.3%
+0.2pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
163
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
163
0.2%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
155
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
155
0.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,892
-1.8pp
Not stated
-1,043
-2.0pp
Nepali
+1,046
+1.4pp
Mandarin
+233
+0.3pp
Punjabi
+321
+0.4pp
Urdu
+260
+0.4pp
Gujarati
+181
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
+110
+0.2pp
Sinhalese
+111
+0.1pp
Spanish
+74
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Launceston (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 58,910 | 84.1% | 88.9% | 56,018 | 85.9% | 89.8% | +2,892 | -1.8pp |
| Not stated | 3,561 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 4,604 | 7.1% | 6.7% | -1,043 | -2.0pp |
| Nepali | 1,822 | 2.6% | 0.9% | 776 | 1.2% | 0.3% | +1,046 | +1.4pp |
| Mandarin | 885 | 1.3% | 0.6% | 652 | 1.0% | 0.4% | +233 | +0.3pp |
| Punjabi | 380 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 59 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +321 | +0.4pp |
| Urdu | 284 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 24 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +260 | +0.4pp |
| Gujarati | 208 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 27 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +181 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 200 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 90 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +110 | +0.2pp |
| Sinhalese | 163 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 52 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +111 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 155 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 81 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +74 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 70,024 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 65,240 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,784 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.