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 Birkdale, accounting for 88.1% (13,025 people). This share was lower than Redland (C) (88.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 370 people and 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Birkdale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Birkdale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Birkdale, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
13,025
% of total
88.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
13,025
88.1%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
538
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
538
3.6%
-1.6pp
Mandarin
2021 count
114
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
114
0.8%
0.0pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
95
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
95
0.6%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
80
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
80
0.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
70
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
70
0.5%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
63
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
63
0.4%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
48
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
0.3%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
48
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
0.3%
0.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
47
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
47
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+370
+0.6pp
Not stated
-219
-1.6pp
Mandarin
-2
0.0pp
Afrikaans
+40
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+38
+0.2pp
Dutch
+2
0.0pp
German
+18
+0.1pp
Greek
0
0.0pp
Spanish
+11
0.0pp
Vietnamese
0
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Birkdale. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 13,025 | 88.1% | 88.9% | 12,655 | 87.5% | 88.9% | +370 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 538 | 3.6% | 3.6% | 757 | 5.2% | 4.4% | -219 | -1.6pp |
| Mandarin | 114 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 116 | 0.8% | 0.5% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Afrikaans | 95 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 55 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +40 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 80 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 42 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +38 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 70 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 68 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| German | 63 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 45 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 48 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 48 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 48 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 37 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 47 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 47 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 14,792 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,469 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +323 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.