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English as a first language in the United Kingdom in 2011
English as a first language in the United Kingdom in 2011
Proportion of the population of the United Kingdom whose main language was English in 2011, by country*
This statistic shows the percentage of the population of the United Kingdom that that had English as their main language in 2011. There was a lower percentage of non-English/Welsh speakers in Wales than in any of the other countries, and England had the highest percentage of non-English speakers.
Proportion of the population of the United Kingdom whose main language was English in 2011, by country*
Loading statistic...
| English | Other | |
|---|---|---|
| England | 92% | 8% |
| Wales | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| Northern Ireland | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| Scotland** | 92.6% | 7.4% |
| English | Other | |
|---|---|---|
| England | 92% | 8% |
| Wales | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| Northern Ireland | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| Scotland** | 92.6% | 7.4% |
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Description
Source
More information
This statistic shows the percentage of the population of the United Kingdom that that had English as their main language in 2011. There was a lower percentage of non-English/Welsh speakers in Wales than in any of the other countries, and England had the highest percentage of non-English speakers.
Show more- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- March 2013
- Region
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- Survey time period
- March 27, 2011
- Age group
- 3 years and older
- Method of interview
- Postal questionnaire
- Supplementary notes
-
*English or Welsh in Wales.
The data originates from the 2011 National Census.
Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland sourced seperately:
Scotland, page 28
Northern Ireland, page 43
**For Scotland the question was phrased as the language spoken in the home, rather than the main language of the respondent.
Critics of the 2011 Scottish census argue that by including the option of "Scots" as the language spoken in the home, the figures may not be accurate due to a different interpretation of what "Scots" was.
Source
- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- March 2013
More information
- Region
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- Survey time period
- March 27, 2011
- Age group
- 3 years and older
- Method of interview
- Postal questionnaire
- Supplementary notes
-
*English or Welsh in Wales.
The data originates from the 2011 National Census.
Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland sourced seperately:
Scotland, page 28
Northern Ireland, page 43
**For Scotland the question was phrased as the language spoken in the home, rather than the main language of the respondent.
Critics of the 2011 Scottish census argue that by including the option of "Scots" as the language spoken in the home, the figures may not be accurate due to a different interpretation of what "Scots" was.
Other statistics on the topic
Languages in the United Kingdom
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Statistics on "Languages in the United Kingdom (UK)"
- Overview of the non-native English speaking population
The most important statistics
- Proportion of the population of the United Kingdom whose main language was English in 2011, by country* English as a first language in the United Kingdom in 2011
- Non-English languages ranked by number of speakers in England and Wales in 2011* (in 1,000 speakers)Most common non-English languages spoken in England and Wales 2011
- Foreign languages spoken within England and Wales in 2011, by language group*Other languages spoken in England and Wales in 2011, by language group
- Proportion of the population of England whose main language was not English in 2011, by regionFirst language of the population of England by region in 2011
- Ranking of local authorities with the highest share of residents whose first language was not English in England and Wales in 2011Top ten areas with highest share of non-native English speakers in England in 2011
- Local authorities with the highest percentage of residents whose main language was English in England and Wales in 2011Areas with highest share of native English speakers in England in 2011
- English proficiency of the non-native population
The most important statistics
- Proportion of the non-native population that is proficient in the use of English in England and Wales in 2011, by largest native main types*England and Wales: English proficiency of largest non-native populations in 2011
- Percentage of total population who were non-native speakers of English in England and Wales in 2011, by proficiency*England and Wales: English language proficiency of non-native speakers in 2011
- Proportion of population of Scotland with some weaknesses in English in 2011, by skill level*Scotland: percentage of inhabitants with English language issues in 2011
- Percentage of total population who were non-native speakers of English in Northern Ireland in 2011, by proficiency rate*Northern Ireland: English language proficiency of non-native speakers in 2011
- Proportion of non-native English speakers in Northern Ireland who could not speak English at all in 2011, by main languageNorthern Ireland: non-English speaking population in 2011
- Proportion of non-native English speakers who could speak English well or very well in Northern Ireland in 2011, by native languageNorthern Ireland: English proficiency of non-native speakers by language in 2011
- English proficiency of the non-native labor force
The most important statistics
- English proficiency of non-native speakers in England and Wales in 2011, by genderEngland and Wales: English language proficiency in 2011 by gender
- Employment rate of those whose main language was not English in England and Wales in 2011, by gender and proficiencyEmployment rate of non-native English speakers in England and Wales, by proficiency
- Unemployment rate of those whose main language was not English in England and Wales in 2011, by gender and proficiencyUnemployment rate of non-native English speakers in England and Wales, by proficiency
- Economic inactivity rate of those whose main language was not English in England and Wales in 2011, by gender and proficiencyEconomic inactivity rate of non-native English speakers in England and Wales
- Percentage of total population who were non-native speakers of English in England in 2011, by proficiency rate*England: English language proficiency of non-native speakers in 2011
- Regional languages in the United Kingdom
The most important statistics
- Proportion of population of Scotland with Gaelic language competencies in 2011, by skillset*Scotland: percentage of Gaelic-speaking inhabitants in 2011
- Number of primary school pupils receiving lessons in Gaelic in publicly funded schools in Scotland in 2017Scotland: total primary pupils having lessons in Gaelic in 2017
- Number of secondary school pupils receiving lessons in Gaelic in publicly funded schools in Scotland in 2017Scotland: total secondary pupils having lessons in Gaelic in 2017
- Proportion of the population of Northern Ireland with some language skills in Irish or Ulster-Scots in 2011Northern Ireland: Irish language skills in 2011
- Share of primary school students taught using the Irish language in Northern Ireland from 2001/02 to 2017/18*Northern Ireland: share of primary students with lessons in Irish 2001-2018
- Share of secondary school students taught using the Irish language in Northern Ireland from 2001/2002 to 2016/2017*Northern Ireland: share of secondary students with lessons in Irish 2001-2017
- Number of primary school students taught using the Welsh language in Wales from 2011 to 2017Wales: number of primary students with lessons in Welsh 2011-2017
- Number of secondary school students taught using the Welsh language in Wales from 2011 to 2017Wales: number of secondary students with lessons in Welsh 2011-2017
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- Non-English languages ranked by number of speakers in England and Wales in 2011* (in 1,000 speakers)
- Foreign languages spoken within England and Wales in 2011, by language group*
- Proportion of the population of England whose main language was not English in 2011, by region
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- Proportion of the non-native population that is proficient in the use of English in England and Wales in 2011, by largest native main types*
- Percentage of total population who were non-native speakers of English in England and Wales in 2011, by proficiency*
- Proportion of population of Scotland with some weaknesses in English in 2011, by skill level*
- Percentage of total population who were non-native speakers of English in Northern Ireland in 2011, by proficiency rate*
- Proportion of non-native English speakers in Northern Ireland who could not speak English at all in 2011, by main language
- Proportion of non-native English speakers who could speak English well or very well in Northern Ireland in 2011, by native language
- English proficiency of non-native speakers in England and Wales in 2011, by gender
- Employment rate of those whose main language was not English in England and Wales in 2011, by gender and proficiency
- Unemployment rate of those whose main language was not English in England and Wales in 2011, by gender and proficiency
- Economic inactivity rate of those whose main language was not English in England and Wales in 2011, by gender and proficiency
- Percentage of total population who were non-native speakers of English in England in 2011, by proficiency rate*
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- Number of secondary school pupils receiving lessons in Gaelic in publicly funded schools in Scotland in 2017
- Proportion of the population of Northern Ireland with some language skills in Irish or Ulster-Scots in 2011
- Share of primary school students taught using the Irish language in Northern Ireland from 2001/02 to 2017/18*
- Share of secondary school students taught using the Irish language in Northern Ireland from 2001/2002 to 2016/2017*
- Number of primary school students taught using the Welsh language in Wales from 2011 to 2017
- Number of secondary school students taught using the Welsh language in Wales from 2011 to 2017
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