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 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 used at home for Somerset (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Somerset (R), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
English
2021 count
22,130
% of total
88.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
22,130
88.4%
+0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,660
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,660
6.6%
-1.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
274
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
274
1.1%
+0.6pp
Tagalog
2021 count
178
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
178
0.7%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
86
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
86
0.3%
0.0pp
Bisaya
2021 count
73
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
73
0.3%
+0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
65
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
65
0.3%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
56
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
56
0.2%
-0.2pp
Cebuano
2021 count
38
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
38
0.2%
+0.1pp
Korean
2021 count
35
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
0.1%
0.0pp
Chart view
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 used 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.