The initial 2001 Census figures released back in February 2003 showed an increase of around 80,000 in the number of those who can speak Welsh. The figures released in May, 2003 showed that 37.7% of children between 3 and 15 years old in Wales can speak the language – which is an increase of 13.4 percentage points since the last Census in 1991. These statistics make interesting reading but how much use are they as we try and assess how many people actually use the Welsh language in their everyday lives across the whole of Wales? Does the fact that the 742 (68%) of those living in Cwmllynfell who state that they can speak Welsh mean that 742 people actually use the language everyday?
The Census remains the most comprehensive source of information available to us. This said, it’s very difficult to compare the 1991 and 2001 figures correctly, especially as the boundaries of very many electoral divisions have changed over the past decade. But, we can use the information we have to take us on a virtual journey around Wales on the Traws Cambria.
The national bus service takes us through communities where Welsh is the language of the community, and also takes us to the industrial areas of the south, where large numbers of people speak Welsh.
Our journey starts on Anglesey and we’re soon in the village of Bryngwran – through which the old A5 road roars as it approaches its destination in Holyhead. According to the 2001 Census, 76% (1233 people) can speak Welsh here. Back in 1991, this figure was 79% (1405 of the village’s inhabitants).
Over the Menai Straits and we’re soon in Caernarfon, in the Peblig electoral division, which remains the area with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in Wales – 88% (1942 people) in 2001, as opposed to 91% (2108 people) ten years ago. A few miles down the road, and we arrive at Porthmadog – a town which has seen a major change in relation to the Welsh language since 1991. Back then, 85% (1378 people) spoke Welsh, now, the figure stands at 74% (2534 people) claim to understand Welsh. Porthmadog is one town which has seen its electoral divisions changed since 1991, and therefore it is impossible to ascertain a true comparison between 1991 and 2001.
Our next stop is the home of over 6350 full-time students at the time of the 2001 Census – Aberystwyth. For the first time, students all over the UK were counted at their term-time address, and this undoubtedly affected the results for Aberystwyth. Combining the different wards in the town in 1991 gives us a total of 3596 (or 44.5%)Welsh speakers, the most recent Census gives us a total of 36%(or 4055 speakers) – an increase in the number of speakers, but a decline in the percentage – something that is seen across the county of Ceredigion as a whole. This percentage would probably have been higher had the Census taken place during the university vacation. The same will be true for Lampeter.
The Traws Cambria then moves on to Carmarthen – another college town – where we see a slight drop in the percentage of Welsh speakers – from 47% in 1991 (5607 speakers) to 43% (5431 speakers) in 2001. Down the motorway and we’re soon in Swansea – a city which has seen the language stabilised at 13% since 1991.
A short journey down the M4, and we arrive in the Butetown area of Cardiff – the home of the National Assembly for Wales – one of the areas of Wales which has seen a huge upturn in fortune since the 1991 Census. Back then, 3.2% (or 111 of the population) could speak Welsh. Now, the figure has risen to 8%, with 358 people identifying themselves as Welsh speakers.
This may be the end of the journey for the Traws Cambria, but our virtual bus still has one or two stops to go – the first is Torfaen – an area which has seen an increase of 8 percentage points of Welsh speakers over the past decade. Around 12% of those living in Abersychan identify themselves as understanding Welsh. Rhondda Cynon Taf is another area which has seen a healthy increase in the percentage of Welsh speakers, with 19% of the inhabitants of the Pontypridd Town electoral division can speak Welsh. But why is there such an increase in these areas? It’s mostly down to the success of Welsh medium and bilingual education over the past decades. Years of commitment from teachers and parents alike have enabled the language to thrive – a trend which appears to be increasing.
Our 2001 journey through Wales was very different to the same journey undertaken in 1991. Although the percentage of Welsh speakers may have fallen in some areas, the numbers are on the increase throughout Wales. What does this tell us? That we can’t look at one set of figures and assess the state of the language through percentages or numbers alone. Even stark figures like these will affect our judgement.
For much more information on the results of the 2001 Census see our publications page.