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 Ashby (WA), accounting for 82% (2,328 people). This share was higher than Wanneroo (C) (74.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 144 people, while its share fell by 0.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Ashby (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Ashby (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ashby (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
English
2021 count
2,328
% of total
82.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,328
82.0%
-0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
103
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
103
3.6%
-1.3pp
Gujarati
2021 count
43
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
43
1.5%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
38
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
38
1.3%
+0.7pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
34
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
34
1.2%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
27
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
27
1.0%
+0.1pp
Arabic
2021 count
19
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
19
0.7%
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
19
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
19
0.7%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
17
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
0.6%
0.0pp
Malayalam
2021 count
15
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
15
0.5%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+144
-0.2pp
Not stated
-26
-1.3pp
Gujarati
+5
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+22
+0.7pp
Afrikaans
+3
0.0pp
Mandarin
+3
+0.1pp
Arabic
+6
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
+4
+0.1pp
Spanish
0
0.0pp
Malayalam
-12
-0.5pp
Data table
Language used at home for Ashby (WA). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,328 | 82.0% | 74.8% | 2,184 | 82.2% | 74.0% | +144 | -0.2pp |
| Not stated | 103 | 3.6% | 4.6% | 129 | 4.9% | 5.7% | -26 | -1.3pp |
| Gujarati | 43 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 38 | 1.4% | 0.9% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 38 | 1.3% | 0.6% | 16 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +22 | +0.7pp |
| Afrikaans | 34 | 1.2% | 1.5% | 31 | 1.2% | 1.6% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 27 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 24 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Arabic | 19 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 13 | 0.5% | 1.0% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 19 | 0.7% | 2.6% | 15 | 0.6% | 2.7% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 17 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 17 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Malayalam | 15 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 27 | 1.0% | 0.2% | -12 | -0.5pp |
| Total | 2,839 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,658 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +181 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.