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There has been a growth in the number of Welsh speakers across North Wales, rising from 33% to 40% over the last decade. 13.4% of Wrexham’s population regarded themselves as Welsh speaking in the 1991 Census. A broader question was asked in the 2001 Census, which showed that 22.9% of local people possessed at least one Welsh language skill, compared to a Welsh average of 28.4%.
| Area |
Identified as Welsh |
Possessing one or more
skills in Welsh language |
| Number |
% |
Number |
% |
| Wrexham |
12,065 |
9.4 |
28,401 |
22.9 |
| Conwy |
13,289 |
12.1 |
42,174 |
39.7 |
| Denbighshire |
9,829 |
10.6 |
32,469 |
36.0 |
| Flintshire |
8,662 |
5.8 |
30,660 |
21.4 |
| Gwynedd |
31,356 |
26.8 |
85,847 |
76.1 |
| Isle of Anglesey |
12,975 |
19.4 |
45,534 |
70.4 |
| North Wales |
88,176 |
13.3 |
265,085 |
40.0 |
| Wales |
417,820 |
14.4 |
797,717 |
28.4 |
Source: Office for National Statistics – Census 2001
In Wrexham County Borough in the 2001 Census, almost 1 in 7 of the population could read Welsh, just over 1 in 8 could write Welsh, just over 1 in 9 could read, write and speak Welsh and 1 in 8 have some skills. About 4 in every 5 people have no skills in Welsh.
| Can Read % |
Can Write % |
Have No Skills % |
Have Some Skills % |
Can Read, Write and Speak % |
| 14.82 |
12.32 |
77.10 |
12.00 |
10.90 |
A little over 2 in 5 of the North Wales population have one or more skills in Welsh (as defined by the 2001 Census). In Wrexham the proportion is just over 1 in 5. This figure is higher in Gwynedd and Ynys Mon, which have the highest proportions of Welsh speakers in Wales. In Wales as a whole, the figure stands at just over 1 in 4.
| Type |
Wrexham |
North Wales |
Wales |
| All people |
128,476 |
641,286 |
2,805,701 |
| One or more skills in Welsh |
28,401 |
265,085 |
797,717 |
| % |
22.1 |
41.3 |
28.4 |
Wrexham County Council seeks through its Welsh Language Scheme to continue to extend the use of the Welsh language within the community and to improve delivery of Welsh medium services. At the 2001 Census, Ponciau had the greatest knowledge of Welsh among its residents, with 49.92% of the population having some knowledge of the language, followed by the Ceiriog Valley (47%) and Pant (45%). Areas next to the English border with Cheshire, particularly Rossett (12%) and Holt (14%), have fewer people with any knowledge of Welsh, although the ward of Queensway is third with just under 15%.
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