Between the 2016 and 2021 ABS census we have seen a very large increase in multicultural immigration in Australia. This has led to over 345,000 people in Queensland (QLD) speaking a top 10 language other than English. The largest increases have come from Spanish and Filipino speakers increasing by 28% and 20% respectively. The most frequently spoken languages are Chinese languages, Indian languages and Tagalog.
Source: ABS Census 2021
| RANK | LANGUAGE | 2021 | % CHANGE FROM 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinese Languages | 110,058 | 14% |
| 2 | Indian | 51,643 | 18% |
| 3 | Tagalog (inc Filipino) | 35,301 | 20% |
| 4 | Vietnamese | 31,110 | 17% |
| 5 | Spanish | 29,345 | 28% |
| 6 | Korean | 21,729 | 10% |
| 7 | Italian | 17,810 | –12% |
| 8 | Japanese | 17,776 | 5% |
| 9 | Samoan | 16,427 | 9% |
| 10 | Arabic | 16,004 | 15% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most spoken languages in Queensland (besides English)?
The top languages spoken at home in Queensland other than English are: Chinese languages, Indian languages, Tagalog (including Filipino), Vietnamese, Spanish, Korean, Italian, Japanese, Samoan, and Arabic.
How many Queensland residents speak a top 10 language other than English?
More than 345,000 people in Queensland speak a top 10 language other than English at home, reflecting the state’s multicultural makeup.
Which language groups have grown the fastest recently in Queensland?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Spanish and Tagalog/Filipino speakers showed some of the largest increases with Spanish up about 28% and Tagalog/Filipino up about 20%.
Why does this language data matter for multicultural advertising?
Understanding which languages are widely spoken helps businesses and organisations tailor their messaging and choose the best ethnic media channels to effectively reach multicultural audiences across Queensland.
Are Indigenous languages included in this top 10 list?
No, this list reflects languages spoken at home other than English from ABS census data and doesn’t include separate Indigenous languages, which are also important in communities but aren’t part of this ranked top 10 dataset.