English Language in England: 98% Report It as Main Language (2011 Census)

According to the 2011 UK Census, 98% of England's residents (approx. 51.5 million people) reported English as their main language. The remaining 2% (approx. 1 million) listed another language as primary, with Polish, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Arabic, French, Chinese, and Portuguese among the most common.

Nuances Behind the Number

• "Main language" ≠ only language: Many bilinguals report English as main.
• Proficiency varies: Census doesn't measure fluency.
• Regional variation: London and major cities have lower percentages (e.g., ~78% in some London boroughs).
• Welsh in England: Not counted separately; Welsh speakers in England typically report English as main.

Since 2011

The 2021 Census data (released 2022–23) shows a slight decline in "English as main language" to around 96–97%, reflecting increased migration and linguistic diversity, especially in urban areas.