Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
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.
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, accounting for 65.8% (2,661 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (85%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 177 people, while its share fell by 2.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Mackay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
Not stated
Tagalog
Filipino
Mandarin
Nepali
Punjabi
Thai
Hindi
Gujarati
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+177
-2.4pp
Not stated
+222
+4.2pp
Tagalog
-8
-0.6pp
Filipino
-52
-1.6pp
Mandarin
+4
0.0pp
Nepali
+8
+0.1pp
Punjabi
-1
-0.1pp
Thai
+5
0.0pp
Hindi
-30
-0.9pp
Gujarati
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Mackay. 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 | 2,661 | 65.8% | 85.0% | 2,484 | 68.2% | 86.7% | +177 | -2.4pp |
| Not stated | 703 | 17.4% | 9.1% | 481 | 13.2% | 7.9% | +222 | +4.2pp |
| Tagalog | 142 | 3.5% | 0.8% | 150 | 4.1% | 0.7% | -8 | -0.6pp |
| Filipino | 75 | 1.9% | 0.5% | 127 | 3.5% | 0.5% | -52 | -1.6pp |
| Mandarin | 51 | 1.3% | 0.3% | 47 | 1.3% | 0.3% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 32 | 0.8% | 0.1% | 24 | 0.7% | 0.0% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 31 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 32 | 0.9% | 0.1% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Thai | 29 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 24 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Hindi | 24 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 54 | 1.5% | 0.2% | -30 | -0.9pp |
| Gujarati | 20 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 17 | 0.5% | 0.1% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 4,044 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,643 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +401 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.