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 No usual address (Qld), accounting for 68.2% (9,972 people). This share was lower than Queensland (80.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 1,272 people, while its share fell by 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
No usual address (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for No usual address (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Queensland and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (Qld), with comparison markers for Queensland.
English
2021 count
9,972
% of total
68.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
9,972
68.2%
-1.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,517
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
3,517
24.0%
+3.8pp
Spanish
2021 count
150
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
150
1.0%
+0.5pp
Mandarin
2021 count
119
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
119
0.8%
-1.0pp
French
2021 count
95
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
95
0.6%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
71
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
71
0.5%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
57
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
57
0.4%
-0.2pp
Korean
2021 count
30
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
30
0.2%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
26
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
26
0.2%
-0.1pp
Portuguese
2021 count
25
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
25
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,272
-1.5pp
Not stated
+999
+3.8pp
Spanish
+87
+0.5pp
Mandarin
-100
-1.0pp
French
-14
-0.3pp
German
-7
-0.1pp
Italian
-16
-0.2pp
Korean
-14
-0.2pp
Dutch
-16
-0.1pp
Portuguese
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for No usual address (Qld). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Queensland.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Queensland% | Count | % | Queensland% | Count | pp | |
| English | 9,972 | 68.2% | 80.6% | 8,700 | 69.7% | 81.3% | +1,272 | -1.5pp |
| Not stated | 3,517 | 24.0% | 6.2% | 2,518 | 20.2% | 6.9% | +999 | +3.8pp |
| Spanish | 150 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 63 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +87 | +0.5pp |
| Mandarin | 119 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 219 | 1.8% | 1.5% | -100 | -1.0pp |
| French | 95 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 109 | 0.9% | 0.3% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| German | 71 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 78 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -7 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 57 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 73 | 0.6% | 0.4% | -16 | -0.2pp |
| Korean | 30 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 44 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -14 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 26 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 42 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -16 | -0.1pp |
| Portuguese | 25 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 24 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 14,631 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,477 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,154 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.