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 Belair (part), accounting for 90.1% (4,230 people). This share was higher than Mitcham (C) (82.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 278 people and 0.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Belair (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Belair (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Belair (part), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
Not stated
Mandarin
German
Greek
Afrikaans
Dutch
Cantonese
Spanish
Italian
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+278
+0.4pp
Not stated
-37
-1.1pp
Mandarin
+21
+0.3pp
German
-3
-0.2pp
Greek
+3
+0.1pp
Afrikaans
+6
+0.2pp
Dutch
+5
+0.1pp
Cantonese
+5
+0.1pp
Spanish
+2
+0.1pp
Italian
-4
-0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Belair (part). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,230 | 90.1% | 82.5% | 3,952 | 89.7% | 81.7% | +278 | +0.4pp |
| Not stated | 142 | 3.0% | 2.4% | 179 | 4.1% | 3.6% | -37 | -1.1pp |
| Mandarin | 63 | 1.3% | 2.5% | 42 | 1.0% | 2.3% | +21 | +0.3pp |
| German | 35 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 38 | 0.9% | 0.6% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Greek | 18 | 0.4% | 1.9% | 15 | 0.3% | 2.2% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 17 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 15 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 10 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Cantonese | 14 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 9 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 13 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 12 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 16 | 0.4% | 0.9% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 4,696 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,407 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +289 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.