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 Mareeba (S), accounting for 74.4% (17,006 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 673 people, while its share fell by 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Mareeba (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Mareeba (S) 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 Mareeba (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
17,006
% of total
74.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
17,006
74.4%
-1.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,483
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
3,483
15.2%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
664
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
664
2.9%
-1.1pp
German
2021 count
179
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
179
0.8%
-0.1pp
Mandarin
2021 count
149
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
149
0.7%
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
111
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
111
0.5%
+0.3pp
French
2021 count
76
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
76
0.3%
-0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
75
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
75
0.3%
0.0pp
Croatian
2021 count
71
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
71
0.3%
0.0pp
Japanese
2021 count
68
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
68
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+673
-1.5pp
Not stated
+439
+1.1pp
Italian
-203
-1.1pp
German
-15
-0.1pp
Mandarin
+37
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
+67
+0.3pp
French
-10
-0.1pp
Spanish
+21
0.0pp
Croatian
+1
0.0pp
Japanese
+7
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Mareeba (S). 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 | 17,006 | 74.4% | 83.7% | 16,333 | 75.9% | 84.3% | +673 | -1.5pp |
| Not stated | 3,483 | 15.2% | 7.4% | 3,044 | 14.1% | 7.8% | +439 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 664 | 2.9% | 0.3% | 867 | 4.0% | 0.4% | -203 | -1.1pp |
| German | 179 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 194 | 0.9% | 0.4% | -15 | -0.1pp |
| Mandarin | 149 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 112 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +37 | +0.2pp |
| Afrikaans | 111 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 44 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +67 | +0.3pp |
| French | 76 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 86 | 0.4% | 0.2% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| Spanish | 75 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 54 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +21 | 0.0pp |
| Croatian | 71 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 70 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Japanese | 68 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 61 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 22,846 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,518 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,328 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.