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Census: Number of Welsh speakers falling Census 2011: Number of Welsh speakers falling
(35 minutes later)
The number of people who speak Welsh has fallen in the past 10 years, according to the 2011 Census. The number of people who speak Welsh has fallen in the past 10 years, according to the 2011 census.
Figures also suggest Welsh is now a minority language in two of its heartlands, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Figures also suggest Welsh is now a minority language in two heartlands, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
It was thought that migration trends might lead to an increase in speakers in less traditional Welsh-speaking areas. It has been thought that migration trends and education might lead to an increase in speakers in less traditional Welsh-speaking areas.
But the census suggests otherwise with just a few counties seeing an increase. But the census suggests otherwise with just two counties seeing a percentage increase.
The number of Welsh speakers overall has fallen by about 2% from 576,000 in 2001 to 562,000 last year. The number of Welsh speakers overall has fallen by about 2% from 576,000 (21%) in 2001 to 562,000 (19%) last year, despite an increase in the size of the population.
Gwynedd had the highest percentage of residents aged three and over who said they could speak, read and write in Welsh. The percentage of the population with no Welsh language skills also increased from 2001 to 2011, according to href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/index.html" >the Office for National Statistics data.
Meanwhile, Wales has the highest proportion of people reporting no religion. Speaking before the results were released, First Minister Carwyn Jones said he expected figures to show a smaller proportion of Welsh speakers in the traditional stronghold communities of the language, but with more people speaking Welsh in other parts of Wales.
Nearly two-thirds (66%, two million) of residents gave their national identity as Welsh. However, the data suggests Cardiff and Monmouthshire are the only authorities to have registered a percentage increase in the number of Welsh speakers.
There are differences within age groups, with increases in the number of Welsh speakers among younger children aged three to four, a slight increase for adults 20 to 44, and decreases for other age groups.
Gwynedd had the highest percentage of residents aged three and over who said they could speak, read and write in Welsh, at 56%.
Other data from the census also suggests Wales has the highest proportion of people reporting no religion.
Nearly two-thirds (66%, two million) of residents gave their national identity as Welsh, in the first time this question has been asked.