Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Doncaster, accounting for 38.3% (9,580 people). This share was lower than Manningham (C) (50.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Mandarin, which increased by 1,590 people and 3.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Doncaster - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Doncaster in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Manningham (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Doncaster, with comparison markers for Manningham (C).
English
Mandarin
Cantonese
Greek
Not stated
Persian (excluding Dari)
Italian
Korean
Arabic
Hindi
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,152
-2.2pp
Mandarin
+1,590
+3.4pp
Cantonese
+535
+0.5pp
Greek
-66
-1.6pp
Not stated
-26
-0.9pp
Persian (excluding Dari)
+313
+0.8pp
Italian
-132
-1.2pp
Korean
+43
-0.1pp
Arabic
+81
+0.1pp
Hindi
+106
+0.3pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Doncaster. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Manningham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Manningham (C)% | Count | % | Manningham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 9,580 | 38.3% | 50.7% | 8,428 | 40.5% | 53.6% | +1,152 | -2.2pp |
| Mandarin | 5,251 | 21.0% | 13.9% | 3,661 | 17.6% | 10.7% | +1,590 | +3.4pp |
| Cantonese | 2,645 | 10.6% | 8.5% | 2,110 | 10.1% | 8.1% | +535 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 1,551 | 6.2% | 5.5% | 1,617 | 7.8% | 6.1% | -66 | -1.6pp |
| Not stated | 886 | 3.5% | 3.1% | 912 | 4.4% | 3.9% | -26 | -0.9pp |
| Persian (excluding Dari) | 835 | 3.3% | 2.7% | 522 | 2.5% | 1.9% | +313 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 612 | 2.4% | 3.1% | 744 | 3.6% | 4.2% | -132 | -1.2pp |
| Korean | 385 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 342 | 1.6% | 0.8% | +43 | -0.1pp |
| Arabic | 373 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 292 | 1.4% | 1.6% | +81 | +0.1pp |
| Hindi | 251 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 145 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +106 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 24,993 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20,822 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,171 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.