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 Rockhampton (R), accounting for 86.1% (70,536 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 1,017 people, while its share fell by 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Rockhampton (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Rockhampton (R) 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 Rockhampton (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
70,536
% of total
86.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
70,536
86.1%
-1.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
6,138
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
6,138
7.5%
+0.5pp
Mandarin
2021 count
478
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
478
0.6%
+0.3pp
Tagalog
2021 count
446
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
446
0.5%
0.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
415
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
415
0.5%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
273
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
273
0.3%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
244
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
244
0.3%
+0.1pp
Nepali
2021 count
241
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
241
0.3%
+0.1pp
Malayalam
2021 count
216
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
216
0.3%
+0.1pp
Tamil
2021 count
194
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
194
0.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,017
-1.1pp
Not stated
+555
+0.5pp
Mandarin
+245
+0.3pp
Tagalog
+86
0.0pp
Vietnamese
+4
0.0pp
Filipino
+30
0.0pp
Punjabi
+77
+0.1pp
Nepali
+111
+0.1pp
Malayalam
+78
+0.1pp
Tamil
-14
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Rockhampton (R). 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 | 70,536 | 86.1% | 83.7% | 69,519 | 87.2% | 84.3% | +1,017 | -1.1pp |
| Not stated | 6,138 | 7.5% | 7.4% | 5,583 | 7.0% | 7.8% | +555 | +0.5pp |
| Mandarin | 478 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 233 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +245 | +0.3pp |
| Tagalog | 446 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 360 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +86 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 415 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 411 | 0.5% | 0.1% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 273 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 243 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +30 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 244 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 167 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +77 | +0.1pp |
| Nepali | 241 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 130 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +111 | +0.1pp |
| Malayalam | 216 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 138 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +78 | +0.1pp |
| Tamil | 194 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 208 | 0.3% | 0.1% | -14 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 81,921 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 79,735 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,186 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.