As a result of continued decline in the traditional Gaelic heartlands, today no Civil parishes in Scotland in Scotland has a proportion of Gaelic speakers greater than 65% (the highest value is in Barvas, Isle of Lewis, with 64.1%). In addition, no civil parish on mainland Scotland has a proportion of Gaelic speakers greater than 20% (the highest value is in Ardnamurchan, Highland (council area), with 19.3%). Out of a total of 871 civil parishes in Scotland, the proportion of Gaelic speakers exceeds 50% in 7 parishes, exceeds 25% in 14 parishes, and exceeds 10% in 35 parishes. Decline in traditional areas has recently been balanced by growth in the Scottish Lowlands. Between the 2001 and 2011 censuses, the number of Gaelic speakers rose in nineteen of the countrys 32 council areas. The largest absolute gains were in Aberdeenshire (council area) (+526), North Lanarkshire (+305), City of Aberdeen (+216), and East Ayrshire (+208). The largest relative gains were in Aberdeenshire (+0.19%), East Ayrshire (+0.18%), Moray (+0.16%), and Orkney Islands (+0.13%).
Question: In the Lowlands did the number of Gaelic speakers increase or decrease between 2001 and 2011?
Answer: increase