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 Whitsunday (R), accounting for 82% (30,406 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (83.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 3,035 people and 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Whitsunday (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Whitsunday (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 Whitsunday (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
30,406
% of total
82.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
30,406
82.0%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
4,228
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
4,228
11.4%
-1.3pp
Spanish
2021 count
303
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
303
0.8%
+0.6pp
Mandarin
2021 count
227
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
227
0.6%
-0.2pp
Tagalog
2021 count
130
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
130
0.4%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
118
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
118
0.3%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
107
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
107
0.3%
0.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
100
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
100
0.3%
+0.1pp
Tongan
2021 count
99
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
99
0.3%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
98
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
98
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,035
+0.9pp
Not stated
-49
-1.3pp
Spanish
+244
+0.6pp
Mandarin
-49
-0.2pp
Tagalog
-5
0.0pp
French
+20
0.0pp
German
-8
0.0pp
Vietnamese
+23
+0.1pp
Tongan
+47
+0.1pp
Filipino
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Whitsunday (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 | 30,406 | 82.0% | 83.7% | 27,371 | 81.1% | 84.3% | +3,035 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 4,228 | 11.4% | 7.4% | 4,277 | 12.7% | 7.8% | -49 | -1.3pp |
| Spanish | 303 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 59 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +244 | +0.6pp |
| Mandarin | 227 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 276 | 0.8% | 0.7% | -49 | -0.2pp |
| Tagalog | 130 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 135 | 0.4% | 0.3% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| French | 118 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 98 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +20 | 0.0pp |
| German | 107 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 115 | 0.3% | 0.4% | -8 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 100 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 77 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +23 | +0.1pp |
| Tongan | 99 | 0.3% | 0.0% | 52 | 0.2% | 0.0% | +47 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 98 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 95 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 37,099 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 33,747 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,352 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.