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 Noosa (S), accounting for 88.6% (49,844 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 3,697 people.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Noosa (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Noosa (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 Noosa (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
49,844
% of total
88.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
49,844
88.6%
0.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,195
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
3,195
5.7%
-0.7pp
German
2021 count
411
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
411
0.7%
-0.2pp
French
2021 count
320
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
320
0.6%
+0.1pp
Portuguese
2021 count
311
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
311
0.6%
+0.4pp
Spanish
2021 count
300
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
300
0.5%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
234
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
234
0.4%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
129
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
129
0.2%
-0.1pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
105
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
105
0.2%
0.0pp
Japanese
2021 count
104
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
104
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,697
0.0pp
Not stated
-163
-0.7pp
German
-48
-0.2pp
French
+80
+0.1pp
Portuguese
+211
+0.4pp
Spanish
+138
+0.2pp
Italian
+49
0.0pp
Dutch
-23
-0.1pp
Afrikaans
+17
0.0pp
Japanese
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Noosa (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 | 49,844 | 88.6% | 83.7% | 46,147 | 88.6% | 84.3% | +3,697 | 0.0pp |
| Not stated | 3,195 | 5.7% | 7.4% | 3,358 | 6.4% | 7.8% | -163 | -0.7pp |
| German | 411 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 459 | 0.9% | 0.4% | -48 | -0.2pp |
| French | 320 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 240 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +80 | +0.1pp |
| Portuguese | 311 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 100 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +211 | +0.4pp |
| Spanish | 300 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 162 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +138 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 234 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 185 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +49 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 129 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 152 | 0.3% | 0.1% | -23 | -0.1pp |
| Afrikaans | 105 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 88 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +17 | 0.0pp |
| Japanese | 104 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 99 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 56,251 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 52,096 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,155 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.