A statistical overview of the Welsh language

Abstract

This volume looks at a wide range of statistics relating to the Welsh \nlanguage. Several areas are examined in detail, but it is not a \ncomprehensive document. A decision was made to concentrate on the \nnumber and percentage of Welsh speakers, their literacy skills, and the \npractical use they make of the language. The media are not touched on \nat all. The volume’s main concerns are the sustainability of the present \nsituation and the outlook for the future. \nThese are some of the most important conclusions. \nThe percentage of people able to speak Welsh increased between 1991 \nand 2001, principally owing to the growth in the teaching of Welsh as a \nsecond language in schools over that period. \nThe number and percentage of first-language speakers among the \nyoung continue to increase as a result of the growth of Welsh-medium \neducation. \nOut-migration is having a substantial effect on the number of people in \nWales able to speak Welsh. \nIn-migration is having a substantial effect on the percentage of people in \nWales able to speak Welsh. At the time of the 2001 Census, 20% of the \npopulation had been born in England (Figure 72). We can expect the \npercentage to be higher by this time and still rising. \nThere appears to be a net out-migration of fluent Welsh-speakers from \nWales. The figures suggest that the number of fluent speakers in Wales \nis decreasing every year. \nThe geographical distribution of Welsh speakers changed between 1991 \nand 2001. This meant that the likelihood of one Welsh speaker meeting \nanother at random decreased over that period. Such a change has \nimplications for language use and for the formation of households where \nWelsh is used. \nNeither the results of recent surveys nor the calculated projections \nsuggest that we shall see a substantial increase in the percentage of \npeople who can speak Welsh in the near future.

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