Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Torres (S), accounting for 41.6% (1,419 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Australian Indigenous Languages, nfd, which decreased by 163 people and 4.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Torres (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Torres (S) 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 Torres (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)
Not stated
Kalaw Kawaw Ya/Kalaw Lagaw Ya
Aboriginal English, so described
Creole, nfd
Meriam Mir
Japanese
Torres Strait Island Languages, nfd
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+79
+4.5pp
Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)
+80
+4.4pp
Not stated
-249
-6.4pp
Kalaw Kawaw Ya/Kalaw Lagaw Ya
+11
+0.4pp
Creole, nfd
-2
0.0pp
Meriam Mir
+7
+0.2pp
Japanese
+2
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Island Languages, nfd
-39
-1.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Torres (S). 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 | 1,419 | 41.6% | 83.7% | 1,340 | 37.1% | 84.3% | +79 | +4.5pp |
| Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) | 1,332 | 39.1% | 0.3% | 1,252 | 34.7% | 0.2% | +80 | +4.4pp |
| Not stated | 339 | 9.9% | 7.4% | 588 | 16.3% | 7.8% | -249 | -6.4pp |
| Kalaw Kawaw Ya/Kalaw Lagaw Ya | 75 | 2.2% | 0.0% | 64 | 1.8% | 0.0% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Aboriginal English, so described | 56 | 1.6% | 0.0% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Creole, nfd | 28 | 0.8% | 0.1% | 30 | 0.8% | 0.1% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Meriam Mir | 25 | 0.7% | 0.0% | 18 | 0.5% | 0.0% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Japanese | 13 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 11 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Island Languages, nfd | 12 | 0.4% | 0.0% | 51 | 1.4% | 0.0% | -39 | -1.0pp |
| Total | 3,411 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,607 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -196 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.