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 Mackay (R), accounting for 85% (103,403 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 3,780 people, while its share fell by 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Mackay (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Mackay (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mackay (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
103,403
% of total
85.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
103,403
85.0%
-1.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
11,055
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
11,055
9.1%
+1.2pp
Tagalog
2021 count
938
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
938
0.8%
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
653
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
653
0.5%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
586
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
586
0.5%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
389
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
389
0.3%
0.0pp
Maltese
2021 count
244
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
244
0.2%
-0.1pp
Thai
2021 count
230
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
230
0.2%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
217
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
217
0.2%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
211
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
211
0.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,780
-1.7pp
Not stated
+2,015
+1.2pp
Tagalog
+118
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
+62
0.0pp
Filipino
+44
0.0pp
Mandarin
+76
0.0pp
Maltese
-69
-0.1pp
Thai
+54
0.0pp
German
-22
0.0pp
Punjabi
+61
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Mackay (R). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| English | 103,403 | 85.0% | 83.7% | 99,623 | 86.7% | 84.3% | +3,780 | -1.7pp |
| Not stated | 11,055 | 9.1% | 7.4% | 9,040 | 7.9% | 7.8% | +2,015 | +1.2pp |
| Tagalog | 938 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 820 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +118 | +0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 653 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 591 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +62 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 586 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 542 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +44 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 389 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 313 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +76 | 0.0pp |
| Maltese | 244 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 313 | 0.3% | 0.0% | -69 | -0.1pp |
| Thai | 230 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 176 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +54 | 0.0pp |
| German | 217 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 239 | 0.2% | 0.4% | -22 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 211 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 150 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +61 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 121,698 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 114,941 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,757 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.