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 Capalaba, accounting for 86.1% (15,474 people). This share was lower than Redland (C) (88.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 14,637 people, while its share fell by 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Capalaba - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Capalaba 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 Capalaba, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
15,474
% of total
86.1%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
15,474
86.1%
-1.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
740
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
740
4.1%
-4.6pp
Mandarin
2021 count
150
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
150
0.8%
-
Spanish
2021 count
102
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
102
0.6%
-
Punjabi
2021 count
98
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
98
0.5%
-
Tagalog
2021 count
89
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
89
0.5%
-
Afrikaans
2021 count
84
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
84
0.5%
+0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
76
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
76
0.4%
0.0pp
Hindi
2021 count
76
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
76
0.4%
-
German
2021 count
57
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
57
0.3%
-
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+14,637
-1.6pp
Not stated
+657
-4.6pp
Afrikaans
+81
+0.2pp
Greek
+72
0.0pp
Italian
+43
0.0pp
Arabic
+39
-0.3pp
Japanese
+35
-0.1pp
Thai
+28
-0.5pp
French
+22
-0.2pp
Sinhalese
+15
-0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for Capalaba. 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 | 15,474 | 86.1% | 88.9% | 837 | 87.7% | 88.9% | +14,637 | -1.6pp |
| Not stated | 740 | 4.1% | 3.6% | 83 | 8.7% | 4.4% | +657 | -4.6pp |
| Mandarin | 150 | 0.8% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Spanish | 102 | 0.6% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Punjabi | 98 | 0.5% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Tagalog | 89 | 0.5% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Afrikaans | 84 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +81 | +0.2pp |
| Greek | 76 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +72 | 0.0pp |
| Hindi | 76 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| German | 57 | 0.3% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Total | 17,970 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 954 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +17,016 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.