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 Mount Barker (SA), accounting for 89.5% (16,376 people). This share was lower than Mount Barker (DC) (91%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 3,929 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Mount Barker (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Mount Barker (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Barker (DC) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Barker (SA), with comparison markers for Mount Barker (DC).
English
2021 count
16,376
% of total
89.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
16,376
89.5%
-0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
657
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
657
3.6%
-1.3pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
110
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
110
0.6%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
96
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
96
0.5%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
73
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
73
0.4%
-0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
73
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
73
0.4%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
63
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
63
0.3%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
53
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
53
0.3%
0.0pp
Tagalog
2021 count
52
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
52
0.3%
+0.1pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
50
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
50
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,929
-0.5pp
Not stated
-23
-1.3pp
Afrikaans
+57
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+52
+0.2pp
German
+2
-0.1pp
Punjabi
+41
+0.2pp
Filipino
+20
0.0pp
Italian
+8
0.0pp
Tagalog
+26
+0.1pp
Sinhalese
+28
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Mount Barker (SA). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Barker (DC)% | Count | % | Mount Barker (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 16,376 | 89.5% | 91.0% | 12,447 | 90.0% | 91.0% | +3,929 | -0.5pp |
| Not stated | 657 | 3.6% | 4.0% | 680 | 4.9% | 5.0% | -23 | -1.3pp |
| Afrikaans | 110 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 53 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +57 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 96 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 44 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +52 | +0.2pp |
| German | 73 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 71 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +2 | -0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 73 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 32 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +41 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 63 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 43 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +20 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 53 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 45 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Tagalog | 52 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 26 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +26 | +0.1pp |
| Sinhalese | 50 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 22 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +28 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 18,302 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,833 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,469 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.