Welsh in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Speakers

538,000

Type

Location

Welsh in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Country

Information available

1. Basics

Names

Welsh in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Size

538,000

Welsh is one of the six Celtic languages that derive from the Indo-European language family. It is part of the Brythonic group along with Cornish and Breton.

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 gives the Welsh language official status in Wales. When delivering services, public bodies must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than English. 3% of Wales speak another language other than English or Welsh as a main language.

Y Wladfa is a unique Welsh-language settlement in Patagonia, Argentina. It was settled over a 150 years ago by non-conformist Ministers from Wales. 

Today, Patagonia has an estimated 5,000 Welsh speakers.

2. Status

Status

  • Official country wide language
  • Official regional language
  • Official minority language
  • Recognised community language
  • Unrecognised community language
National language
Yes
Indigenous language
Yes

3. State

Documentation: materials

4. Users

Size / Number of users

Number of users

538000
Source
UK 2021 Census
Year
2021

Users within total population

17.80000
Less than 50% use the language

PROPORTION

18
Source
Welsh language in Wales (Census 2021)
Year
2021

Age distribution of users

5. Use

Completion