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 Palmerston (C), accounting for 72.6% (27,015 people). This share was higher than Greater Darwin (66.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 1,225 people, while its share fell by 3.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Palmerston (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Palmerston (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Palmerston (C), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
English
2021 count
27,015
% of total
72.6%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
27,015
72.6%
-3.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,543
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
3,543
9.5%
+0.8pp
Tagalog
2021 count
829
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
829
2.2%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
613
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
613
1.6%
+0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
372
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
372
1.0%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
289
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
289
0.8%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
260
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
260
0.7%
+0.2pp
Nepali
2021 count
242
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
242
0.7%
+0.4pp
Thai
2021 count
231
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
231
0.6%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
220
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
220
0.6%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,225
-3.8pp
Not stated
+614
+0.8pp
Tagalog
+116
+0.1pp
Filipino
+148
+0.2pp
Greek
+76
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
+86
+0.2pp
Mandarin
+88
+0.2pp
Nepali
+128
+0.4pp
Thai
+62
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+114
+0.3pp
Data table
Language used at home for Palmerston (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| English | 27,015 | 72.6% | 66.7% | 25,790 | 76.4% | 67.9% | +1,225 | -3.8pp |
| Not stated | 3,543 | 9.5% | 9.8% | 2,929 | 8.7% | 11.8% | +614 | +0.8pp |
| Tagalog | 829 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 713 | 2.1% | 1.9% | +116 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 613 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 465 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +148 | +0.2pp |
| Greek | 372 | 1.0% | 2.3% | 296 | 0.9% | 2.3% | +76 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 289 | 0.8% | 0.9% | 203 | 0.6% | 0.7% | +86 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 260 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 172 | 0.5% | 1.4% | +88 | +0.2pp |
| Nepali | 242 | 0.7% | 1.9% | 114 | 0.3% | 0.8% | +128 | +0.4pp |
| Thai | 231 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 169 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +62 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 220 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 106 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +114 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 37,226 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 33,755 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,471 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.