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 Beaconsfield (Qld), accounting for 85.3% (5,032 people). This share was higher than Mackay (R) (85%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 150 people, while its share fell by 4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Beaconsfield (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Beaconsfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Beaconsfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
5,032
% of total
85.3%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
5,032
85.3%
-4.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
471
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
471
8.0%
+2.9pp
Tagalog
2021 count
34
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
34
0.6%
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
32
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
32
0.5%
-0.2pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
24
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
24
0.4%
+0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
24
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
24
0.4%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
22
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
22
0.4%
+0.3pp
Hindi
2021 count
20
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
20
0.3%
0.0pp
Thai
2021 count
20
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
20
0.3%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
19
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
19
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+150
-4.0pp
Not stated
+192
+2.9pp
Tagalog
+11
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
-5
-0.2pp
Sinhalese
+6
+0.1pp
Mandarin
+11
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+16
+0.3pp
Hindi
+5
0.0pp
Thai
+13
+0.2pp
Filipino
+7
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Beaconsfield (Qld). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,032 | 85.3% | 85.0% | 4,882 | 89.3% | 86.7% | +150 | -4.0pp |
| Not stated | 471 | 8.0% | 9.1% | 279 | 5.1% | 7.9% | +192 | +2.9pp |
| Tagalog | 34 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 23 | 0.4% | 0.7% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Afrikaans | 32 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 37 | 0.7% | 0.5% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Sinhalese | 24 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 18 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 24 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 13 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 22 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 6 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +16 | +0.3pp |
| Hindi | 20 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Thai | 20 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 7 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 19 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 12 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 5,896 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,467 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +429 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.