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 Western Downs (R), accounting for 86.2% (29,149 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 488 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Western Downs (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Western Downs (R) 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 Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
29,149
% of total
86.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
29,149
86.2%
+0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,303
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
3,303
9.8%
-1.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
201
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
201
0.6%
+0.1pp
Tagalog
2021 count
199
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
199
0.6%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
140
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
140
0.4%
+0.3pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
116
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
116
0.3%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
47
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
47
0.1%
-0.1pp
Hindi
2021 count
41
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
41
0.1%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
40
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
40
0.1%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
38
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
38
0.1%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+488
+0.5pp
Not stated
-306
-1.0pp
Filipino
+28
+0.1pp
Tagalog
+18
+0.1pp
Spanish
+98
+0.3pp
Afrikaans
+5
0.0pp
Punjabi
-13
-0.1pp
Hindi
-2
0.0pp
German
+3
0.0pp
Mandarin
+11
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Western Downs (R). 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 | 29,149 | 86.2% | 83.7% | 28,661 | 85.7% | 84.3% | +488 | +0.5pp |
| Not stated | 3,303 | 9.8% | 7.4% | 3,609 | 10.8% | 7.8% | -306 | -1.0pp |
| Filipino | 201 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 173 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +28 | +0.1pp |
| Tagalog | 199 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 181 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 140 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 42 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +98 | +0.3pp |
| Afrikaans | 116 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 111 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 47 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 60 | 0.2% | 0.2% | -13 | -0.1pp |
| Hindi | 41 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 43 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| German | 40 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 37 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 38 | 0.1% | 0.7% | 27 | 0.1% | 0.7% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 33,826 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 33,429 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +397 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.