Languages of the United Kingdom
UK census

Ability
Wales
Wales
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ability
Welsh
Welsh
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic
Scots
Scots
Irish
Irish
Ulster-Scots
Ulster-Scots
Ability
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Understands but does not speak, read or write
157,792
5.15%
23,357
0.46%
267,412
5.22%
70,501
4.06%
92,040
5.30%
Speaks, reads and writes
430,717
14.06%
32,191
0.63%
1,225,622
23.95%
71,996
4.15%
17,228
0.99%
Speaks but does not read or write
80,429
2.63%
18,966
0.37%
179,295
3.50%
24,677
1.42%
10,265
0.59%
Speaks and reads but does not write
45,524
1.49%
6,218
0.12%
132,709
2.59%
7,414
0.43%
7,801
0.45%
Reads but does not speak or write
44,327
1.45%
4,646
0.09%
107,025
2.09%
5,659
0.33%
11,911
0.69%
Other combination of skills
40,692
1.33%
1,678
0.03%
17,381
0.34%
4,651
0.27%
959
0.06%
No skills
2,263,975
73.90%
5,031,167
98.30%
3,188,779
62.30%
1,550,813
89.35%
1,595,507
91.92%
Total
3,063,456
100.00%
5,118,223
100.00%
5,118,223
100.00%
1,735,711
100.00%
1,735,711
100.00%
Can speak
562,016
18.35%
57,602
1.13%
1,541,693
30.12%
104,943
6.05%
35,404
2.04%
Has some ability
799,481
26.10%
87,056
1.70%
1,929,444
37.70%
184,898
10.65%
140,204
8.08%

Question: What is the extent of knowledge of Gaelic in the UK in 2011?
Answer: A total of 87,056 people in 2011 reported having some ability with Gaelic.