Main Language

Categorises individuals into groups based on their main language

Total number of categories 23

Question 16 - What is your main language?

• English
• Other, please write in (including BLS and tactile BSL)

information on language is required to meet a number of different needs,
including equality monitoring, service planning and provision, resource allocation, and to meet legislative requirements.

The 2011 census asked about ‘languages other than English used at home’ whereas the 2022 census asked about main language. We have concluded that these questions did not gather comparable data, with many more individuals in 2011 indicating an additional or alternative language to English used at home. The change to this question was based on our assessment of data collected in 2011 and question testing ahead of 2022.

This question is identical to that asked in England & Wales in 2021.

The language that a person uses at home.

Total number of categories 605

18: Do you use a language other than English at home?

Tick all that apply.

• No, English only
• Yes, British Sign Language
• Yes, other - please write in

This question has three tick boxes ‘No, English only’, ‘Yes, British Sign Language’ and 'Yes, other'. All other languages are recorded as a text field. The other languages are coded to 603 categories. The categories in this classification may have been combined within the tables.

Specifically, Gaelic, Scots and Polish have been identified as being the most frequently used (after English only) and of having special interest. The Gaelic category in tables is formed from combining the Gaelic (Scottish) and Gaelic (not otherwise specified) language codes. English, Gaelic and Scots language skills are also recorded in language skills.

This information helps central government, local authorities and the NHS to allocate resources and provide services for non-English speakers, for example English teaching and translation services. It is a better indicator than country of birth, which was previously used to forecast the additional cost of providing services to people whose first language is not English. The data is also used to assess the impact of English language ability on employment and other social inclusion indicators.

The number of people using Gaelic and Scots at home is of cultural importance.

Information on the number of British Sign Language users helps with service planning and assists in developing policies to address the needs of the deaf community.

These statistics are used by public service providers to effectively target delivery of  services, for example translation and interpretation services, the availability of English language lessons and the distribution of official information leaflets in alternative languages.

England and Wales 2011

18: What is your main language?

• English
• Other, write in (including British Sign Language)

Question 18 in England and Wales has only 2 tick boxes. Unlike Scotland there is no tick box for British Sign Language which is to be written in the text box. The question in England and Wales also relates to a person's main language.

Scotland 2001

This question first asked in 2011 and so there is no comparable question in 2001.