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 Port Kennedy, accounting for 87.6% (11,791 people). This share was higher than Rockingham (C) (86.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which decreased by 193 people, while its share rose by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Port Kennedy - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Port Kennedy 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 Port Kennedy, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
English
2021 count
11,791
% of total
87.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
11,791
87.6%
+0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
753
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
753
5.6%
-0.8pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
96
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
96
0.7%
0.0pp
Serbian
2021 count
63
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
63
0.5%
-0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
53
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
53
0.4%
+0.2pp
Maori (New Zealand)
2021 count
46
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
46
0.3%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
43
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
43
0.3%
0.0pp
Thai
2021 count
41
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
41
0.3%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
40
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
40
0.3%
+0.1pp
Portuguese
2021 count
39
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
39
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-193
+0.5pp
Not stated
-124
-0.8pp
Afrikaans
-5
0.0pp
Serbian
-18
-0.1pp
Tagalog
+23
+0.2pp
Maori (New Zealand)
-37
-0.3pp
German
+7
0.0pp
Thai
0
0.0pp
Mandarin
+19
+0.1pp
Portuguese
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Port Kennedy. 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 | 11,791 | 87.6% | 86.1% | 11,984 | 87.1% | 85.2% | -193 | +0.5pp |
| Not stated | 753 | 5.6% | 5.8% | 877 | 6.4% | 7.1% | -124 | -0.8pp |
| Afrikaans | 96 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 101 | 0.7% | 0.8% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Serbian | 63 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 81 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -18 | -0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 53 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 30 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +23 | +0.2pp |
| Maori (New Zealand) | 46 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 83 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -37 | -0.3pp |
| German | 43 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 36 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Thai | 41 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 41 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 40 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 21 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Portuguese | 39 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 34 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 13,461 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,766 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -305 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.