Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
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.
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 Somerset (R), accounting for 88.4% (22,130 people). This share was higher than Greater Brisbane (77.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 511 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Somerset (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Somerset (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Somerset (R), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
English
Not stated
Filipino
Tagalog
Vietnamese
Bisaya
Mandarin
German
Cebuano
Korean
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+511
+0.5pp
Not stated
-305
-1.4pp
Filipino
+156
+0.6pp
Tagalog
+20
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
+3
0.0pp
Bisaya
+40
+0.2pp
Mandarin
-3
0.0pp
German
-43
-0.2pp
Cebuano
+24
+0.1pp
Korean
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Somerset (R). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| English | 22,130 | 88.4% | 77.3% | 21,619 | 87.9% | 78.0% | +511 | +0.5pp |
| Not stated | 1,660 | 6.6% | 5.0% | 1,965 | 8.0% | 5.9% | -305 | -1.4pp |
| Filipino | 274 | 1.1% | 0.3% | 118 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +156 | +0.6pp |
| Tagalog | 178 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 158 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +20 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 86 | 0.3% | 1.1% | 83 | 0.3% | 1.0% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Bisaya | 73 | 0.3% | 0.0% | 33 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +40 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 65 | 0.3% | 2.5% | 68 | 0.3% | 2.4% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| German | 56 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 99 | 0.4% | 0.3% | -43 | -0.2pp |
| Cebuano | 38 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 14 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +24 | +0.1pp |
| Korean | 35 | 0.1% | 0.6% | 34 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 25,026 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,596 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +430 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.