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 Cooloongup, accounting for 84.1% (5,620 people). This share was lower than Rockingham (C) (86.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 65 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Cooloongup - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Cooloongup in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cooloongup, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
5,620
% of total
84.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
5,620
84.1%
-0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
468
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
468
7.0%
-0.3pp
Tagalog
2021 count
53
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
53
0.8%
+0.1pp
Maori (New Zealand)
2021 count
43
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
43
0.6%
+0.3pp
Mandarin
2021 count
33
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
33
0.5%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
32
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
32
0.5%
0.0pp
Thai
2021 count
31
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
31
0.5%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
28
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
28
0.4%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
25
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
25
0.4%
-0.1pp
Maori (Cook Island)
2021 count
25
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
25
0.4%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-65
-0.5pp
Not stated
-20
-0.3pp
Tagalog
+7
+0.1pp
Maori (New Zealand)
+26
+0.3pp
Mandarin
+11
+0.2pp
Filipino
-3
0.0pp
Thai
+4
+0.1pp
Spanish
+6
+0.1pp
German
-8
-0.1pp
Maori (Cook Island)
+16
+0.3pp
Data table
Language used at home for Cooloongup. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,620 | 84.1% | 86.1% | 5,685 | 84.6% | 85.2% | -65 | -0.5pp |
| Not stated | 468 | 7.0% | 5.8% | 488 | 7.3% | 7.1% | -20 | -0.3pp |
| Tagalog | 53 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 46 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Maori (New Zealand) | 43 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +26 | +0.3pp |
| Mandarin | 33 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 22 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 32 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 35 | 0.5% | 0.3% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Thai | 31 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 28 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 22 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| German | 25 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 33 | 0.5% | 0.3% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Maori (Cook Island) | 25 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 9 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +16 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 6,683 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,716 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -33 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.