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 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 spoken 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
Not stated
Afrikaans
Mandarin
German
Punjabi
Filipino
Italian
Tagalog
Sinhalese
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 spoken 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.