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 Townsville (C), accounting for 83.9% (161,774 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,697 people, while its share fell by 1.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Townsville (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Townsville (C) 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 Townsville (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
161,774
% of total
83.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
161,774
83.9%
-1.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
15,755
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
15,755
8.2%
+0.6pp
Tagalog
2021 count
960
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
960
0.5%
+0.1pp
Malayalam
2021 count
793
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
793
0.4%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
670
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
670
0.3%
-0.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
563
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
563
0.3%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
546
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
546
0.3%
0.0pp
Swahili
2021 count
523
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
523
0.3%
+0.2pp
Creole, nfd
2021 count
498
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
498
0.3%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
488
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
488
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,697
-1.3pp
Not stated
+1,491
+0.6pp
Tagalog
+165
+0.1pp
Malayalam
+235
+0.1pp
Italian
-172
-0.2pp
Mandarin
-19
0.0pp
Filipino
+51
0.0pp
Swahili
+288
+0.2pp
Creole, nfd
+204
+0.1pp
Spanish
+65
+0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Townsville (C). 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 | 161,774 | 83.9% | 83.7% | 159,077 | 85.2% | 84.3% | +2,697 | -1.3pp |
| Not stated | 15,755 | 8.2% | 7.4% | 14,264 | 7.6% | 7.8% | +1,491 | +0.6pp |
| Tagalog | 960 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 795 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +165 | +0.1pp |
| Malayalam | 793 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 558 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +235 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 670 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 842 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -172 | -0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 563 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 582 | 0.3% | 0.7% | -19 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 546 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 495 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +51 | 0.0pp |
| Swahili | 523 | 0.3% | 0.0% | 235 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +288 | +0.2pp |
| Creole, nfd | 498 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 294 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +204 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 488 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 423 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +65 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 192,735 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 186,723 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,012 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.