Proficiency in English by council, Census 2021

Usual residents of each of England's and Wales's 318 councils by proficiency in English, Census 2021, from the ONS Census API (its “Proficiency in English language (6 categories)”).

Main language is English (English or Welsh in Wales), highest: Birmingham

929,445

Census Day, 21 March 2021

Verified against source, 31 October 2026, 11:15 UTC

Proficiency in English by council, Census 2021

Source: Office for National Statistics (Census 2021). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Data table

318 rows

Area	Does not apply	Main language is English (English or Welsh in Wales)	Main language is not English (English or Welsh in Wales): Can speak English very well	Main language is not English (English or Welsh in Wales): Can speak English well	Main language is not English (English or Welsh in Wales): Cannot speak English well	Main language is not English (English or Welsh in Wales): Cannot speak English
Birmingham E08000025	44,012	929,445	57,964	62,499	42,140	8,859
Leeds E08000035	27,561	713,111	30,199	26,188	12,776	2,118
North Yorkshire E06000065	15,946	583,851	7,021	5,892	2,401	380
Cornwall E06000052	14,735	545,343	5,384	3,256	1,327	261
Somerset E06000066	15,760	532,913	10,347	8,769	3,244	515
County Durham E06000047	14,401	498,104	4,760	3,296	1,243	264
Buckinghamshire E06000060	17,763	496,435	19,722	13,084	5,168	906
Sheffield E08000019 its area before 1 April 2025	17,711	491,478	18,228	18,070	9,322	1,712
Wiltshire E06000054	14,784	478,350	8,454	6,265	2,133	348
Bradford E08000032	21,293	459,904	18,591	24,829	17,951	3,843
Manchester E08000003	20,457	434,289	40,168	35,592	17,854	3,578
Liverpool E08000012	15,648	425,452	17,762	16,314	9,306	1,606
Bristol, City of E06000023	15,527	410,701	22,748	16,342	6,195	952
Kirklees E08000034	14,721	386,069	10,235	12,192	8,405	1,592
Cheshire East E06000049	11,440	370,917	7,066	6,143	2,748	456
West Northamptonshire E06000062	14,009	366,766	17,494	18,528	7,783	1,145
Dorset E06000059	8,569	364,215	3,553	2,374	740	128
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole E06000058	11,009	356,973	16,402	11,476	3,777	559
Cheshire West and Chester E06000050	10,221	335,329	5,802	3,847	1,664	288
East Riding of Yorkshire E06000011	8,399	326,484	3,155	2,581	1,353	243
Wakefield E08000036	11,878	322,562	6,706	7,658	3,885	681
Cardiff W06000015	11,068	320,150	13,717	10,673	5,698	1,002
Croydon E09000008	15,148	315,336	27,514	21,728	9,490	1,504
North Northamptonshire E06000061	11,850	314,820	12,735	13,957	5,391	772
Northumberland E06000057	8,111	308,943	1,620	1,134	604	156
Wigan E08000010	10,229	307,912	4,365	4,450	2,067	307
Shropshire E06000051	8,285	307,064	3,582	2,938	1,425	312
Wirral E08000015	9,511	303,454	3,326	2,378	1,242	288
Dudley E08000027	10,618	298,942	4,968	5,211	3,097	652
Bromley E09000006	11,383	292,904	14,952	7,604	2,707	442
Barnet E09000003	14,242	289,057	38,886	31,657	13,502	2,000
Doncaster E08000017	10,133	276,387	7,260	9,287	4,295	742
Coventry E08000026	12,112	274,880	25,437	21,505	9,874	1,516
Sandwell E08000028	13,084	274,709	17,226	20,420	13,420	2,973
Stockport E08000007	9,733	272,788	5,746	4,107	2,010	389
Central Bedfordshire E06000056	10,536	269,941	6,930	5,066	1,503	276
Nottingham E06000018	10,362	268,420	18,434	16,945	8,092	1,379
South Gloucestershire E06000025	9,519	265,801	7,835	5,161	1,829	279
Sefton E08000014	7,816	261,763	3,519	3,790	2,036	310
Wandsworth E09000032	11,662	261,751	30,641	16,100	6,292	1,060
Cumberland E06000063	7,426	260,285	2,431	2,026	926	160
Newcastle upon Tyne E08000021	9,162	260,069	13,352	10,933	5,653	956
Sunderland E08000024	7,935	259,351	3,125	2,357	1,152	253
Bolton E08000001	10,879	253,869	9,764	12,303	7,590	1,558
Lambeth E09000022	9,357	253,317	25,584	18,080	9,452	1,865
Medway E06000035	10,122	252,098	8,060	6,392	2,704	397
Leicester E06000016	12,999	248,771	36,216	38,545	24,541	7,499
Walsall E08000030	10,718	246,705	9,413	9,780	6,248	1,260
Rotherham E08000018	8,500	246,654	3,900	4,062	2,292	399
Brighton and Hove E06000043	6,912	245,614	13,957	7,502	2,732	386
Plymouth E06000026	7,761	245,374	5,556	4,188	1,569	247
Ealing E09000009	12,761	244,855	45,696	40,933	19,432	3,440
Southwark E09000028	9,909	244,002	27,450	16,058	8,603	1,616
Enfield E09000010	12,344	242,839	25,292	28,460	17,997	3,052
Lewisham E09000023	11,660	242,028	22,055	15,373	7,987	1,450
Milton Keynes E06000042	10,192	241,997	17,378	12,745	4,158	591
East Suffolk E07000244	6,060	235,021	2,425	1,752	693	107
Kingston upon Hull, City of E06000010	9,438	231,761	8,630	9,652	6,292	1,241
Salford E08000006	10,553	229,864	12,290	10,804	5,532	879
Hillingdon E09000017	11,670	229,263	30,038	23,689	9,509	1,739
Havering E09000016	9,770	227,346	11,539	9,198	3,567	632
Greenwich E09000011	11,476	227,031	24,449	16,854	7,724	1,534
Stoke-on-Trent E06000021	9,379	227,019	8,124	9,009	4,166	674
Rhondda Cynon Taf W06000016	7,333	226,867	1,642	1,136	554	118
Barnsley E08000016 its area before 1 April 2025	7,867	226,571	3,626	4,439	1,793	276
Swansea W06000011	6,601	220,870	4,669	3,852	2,092	406
Newham E09000025	14,437	220,022	43,497	45,802	23,756	3,521
Derby E06000015	9,076	219,616	12,624	11,811	6,781	1,456
Redbridge E09000026	12,623	218,924	32,968	30,036	13,705	2,004
Tower Hamlets E09000030	11,552	218,131	37,285	24,671	15,566	3,101
Brent E09000005	12,045	217,371	43,039	42,680	20,618	4,063
Westmorland and Furness E06000064	5,583	216,119	2,239	1,855	680	116
Wolverhampton E08000031	9,554	215,986	13,082	14,738	8,677	1,691
Bexley E09000004	8,835	214,970	11,147	7,639	3,324	557
Trafford E08000009	7,669	211,103	8,555	5,017	2,349	359
Tameside E08000008	8,029	209,879	4,738	4,819	2,991	615
Oldham E08000004	9,358	207,898	6,692	9,247	7,246	1,647
Waltham Forest E09000031	11,788	206,863	22,586	24,055	11,456	1,678
Southampton E06000045	8,276	203,603	16,807	14,078	5,398	761
Swindon E06000030	7,878	202,988	10,415	8,117	3,322	690
North Somerset E06000024	6,210	202,255	3,948	3,099	1,035	182
Solihull E08000029	6,709	200,119	5,435	2,617	1,151	208
Hackney E09000012	9,950	199,667	23,015	14,674	9,972	1,869
Hounslow E09000018	10,773	198,853	36,348	28,032	11,898	2,277
North Tyneside E08000022	6,397	197,592	2,397	1,487	896	199
Rochdale E08000005	8,611	194,800	6,225	7,872	5,278	987
Warrington E06000007	6,272	193,572	4,783	4,339	1,762	247
Calderdale E08000033	6,571	190,762	3,244	3,313	2,267	474
York E06000014	5,088	187,680	5,176	3,620	1,147	111
Haringey E09000014	9,112	185,666	25,880	24,854	15,762	2,970
Stockton-on-Tees E06000004	6,143	184,786	2,451	1,883	1,099	233
Portsmouth E06000044	6,727	182,731	8,806	6,639	2,694	405
Gateshead E08000037	5,845	182,293	3,187	2,864	1,581	380
Bath and North East Somerset E06000022	5,231	178,953	5,498	2,793	783	151
Carmarthenshire W06000010	5,178	178,287	1,695	1,425	1,041	272
Bury E08000002	6,639	174,961	4,485	4,590	2,631	545
Harrow E09000015	9,359	174,443	34,239	29,168	11,974	2,020
Colchester E07000071	6,310	174,049	6,873	4,013	1,241	229
Herefordshire, County of E06000019	4,871	173,475	3,345	3,514	1,551	278
Sutton E09000029	7,385	173,379	15,289	9,709	3,363	514
St. Helens E08000013	5,641	172,666	1,860	1,962	948	171
Basildon E07000066	7,236	171,066	4,721	3,224	1,138	186
Islington E09000019	6,951	169,831	22,659	10,992	5,286	870
Caerphilly W06000018	5,265	168,653	950	694	316	75
New Forest E07000091	4,160	168,250	1,865	1,134	312	63
Richmond upon Thames E09000027	6,390	167,514	13,209	5,731	2,087	347
Telford and Wrekin E06000020	6,231	167,409	4,729	4,723	2,097	352
Chelmsford E07000070	5,639	166,881	5,107	2,756	996	144
Charnwood E07000130	5,300	166,768	5,847	4,063	1,711	282
Basingstoke and Deane E07000084	6,168	166,352	6,530	4,316	1,462	326
Peterborough E06000031	8,260	166,028	14,957	17,027	8,029	1,373
Luton E06000032	9,512	165,995	17,556	20,225	10,203	1,771
Huntingdonshire E07000011	5,656	165,858	4,352	3,434	1,330	202
Southend-on-Sea E06000033	5,987	164,381	5,031	3,640	1,419	227
West Suffolk E07000245	5,817	164,367	4,520	3,765	1,295	184
Merton E09000024	8,220	162,563	20,874	15,867	6,715	948
Camden E09000007	6,102	160,655	25,430	11,891	5,198	860
Barking and Dagenham E09000002	9,970	158,652	19,341	20,302	9,296	1,309
Wokingham E06000041	5,549	158,226	8,715	3,572	1,194	246
Bedford E06000055	6,536	156,968	8,565	8,347	4,156	653
Maidstone E07000110	6,085	156,418	5,884	5,225	1,740	430
North Lincolnshire E06000013	4,892	154,264	3,354	4,419	2,396	354
Wealden E07000065	4,127	152,877	1,839	953	302	53
Arun E07000224	4,223	151,197	3,542	3,683	1,905	339
Thurrock E06000034	7,181	149,725	8,087	7,862	2,700	444
West Berkshire E06000037	4,761	149,182	4,191	2,378	793	143
South Cambridgeshire E07000012	5,046	146,396	6,928	2,796	801	153
Westminster E09000033	5,249	146,375	30,418	14,911	6,296	988
North East Lincolnshire E06000012	4,909	146,176	1,962	2,501	1,287	131
Braintree E07000067	4,852	145,977	2,177	1,594	575	95
Canterbury E07000106	3,971	145,109	4,686	2,617	886	162
Flintshire W06000005	4,400	145,037	1,954	2,142	1,197	230
East Devon E07000040	3,756	144,297	1,495	888	305	87
Knowsley E08000011	5,757	144,261	1,961	1,631	760	149
Newport W06000022	5,715	143,840	3,911	3,807	1,962	356
Tendring E07000076	3,866	142,078	1,052	841	391	64
Mid Sussex E07000228	4,736	141,876	3,530	1,726	608	93
King's Lynn and West Norfolk E07000146	4,248	141,439	3,292	3,354	1,715	277
Cherwell E07000177	5,526	141,071	6,664	5,577	1,882	299
Swale E07000113	5,198	140,922	2,221	2,288	902	146
Dacorum E07000096	5,579	140,193	4,735	3,312	1,086	176
South Tyneside E08000023	4,465	140,074	1,298	1,114	677	148
Hammersmith and Fulham E09000013	5,519	139,670	22,711	10,975	3,737	545
Bridgend W06000013	4,194	138,807	1,100	859	421	105
East Hertfordshire E07000242	4,879	138,584	3,888	2,077	633	100
Horsham E07000227	4,230	137,720	2,844	1,435	469	80
South Oxfordshire E07000179	4,615	137,542	3,931	2,153	721	123
East Lindsey E07000137	3,262	136,945	836	785	402	65
Reigate and Banstead E07000211	5,277	136,506	5,333	2,690	894	146
Reading E06000038	6,055	136,436	15,464	11,135	4,167	969
Neath Port Talbot W06000012	3,969	136,319	907	633	359	103
Windsor and Maidenhead E06000040	4,625	135,982	7,778	3,619	1,303	186
Isle of Wight E06000046	3,171	134,738	1,388	787	306	70
South Norfolk E07000149	3,964	134,429	1,964	1,090	417	81
Kingston upon Thames E09000021	5,562	134,395	14,243	9,451	3,880	533
St Albans E07000240	4,965	134,129	5,310	2,565	1,026	168
South Kesteven E07000141	3,844	133,578	2,506	2,442	886	148
Warwick E07000222	4,409	131,957	7,202	3,390	1,278	217
Torbay E06000027	3,506	131,835	1,948	1,461	489	84
Lancaster E07000121	3,997	131,571	3,510	2,594	1,103	159
Redcar and Cleveland E06000003	3,876	131,197	536	513	330	79
Blackpool E06000009	4,333	130,665	2,421	2,479	985	153
Blackburn with Darwen E06000008	6,023	130,160	5,258	7,133	5,049	1,116
Thanet E07000114	4,309	129,876	2,583	2,311	1,234	274
Teignbridge E07000045	3,450	129,550	979	584	187	56
Oxford E07000178	4,316	129,117	16,087	8,914	3,129	477
Breckland E07000143	3,941	128,814	2,954	3,529	1,917	322
Guildford E07000209	3,924	128,423	6,639	3,557	986	121
Middlesbrough E06000002	5,107	128,306	3,724	4,111	2,281	395
Stafford E07000197	3,971	128,218	2,481	1,586	522	89
Powys W06000023	3,267	127,410	1,002	952	439	99
Eastleigh E07000086	4,422	127,157	2,741	1,503	506	114
Vale of White Horse E07000180	4,537	126,892	4,586	2,143	648	107
Stratford-on-Avon E07000221	3,587	126,693	2,281	1,527	547	90
Broadland E07000144	3,383	125,893	1,296	804	288	59
Vale of Glamorgan W06000014	3,859	125,798	1,348	615	248	71
Norwich E07000148	4,094	125,783	6,614	5,162	2,016	253
Preston E07000123	5,309	124,868	7,086	6,715	3,299	558
Elmbridge E07000207	4,768	124,800	5,395	2,782	896	113
Wrexham W06000006	4,032	124,402	2,307	2,627	1,490	258
Tonbridge and Malling E07000115	4,384	123,859	2,244	1,172	449	93
North Hertfordshire E07000099	4,436	123,183	3,183	1,619	671	114
Wychavon E07000238	3,597	122,824	2,268	2,608	1,019	176
Epping Forest E07000072	4,791	122,312	3,968	2,669	1,063	175
Test Valley E07000093	3,992	121,171	2,731	1,850	629	119
Halton E06000006	4,044	121,114	1,271	1,282	617	150
Amber Valley E07000032	3,483	120,874	819	686	282	62
Nuneaton and Bedworth E07000219	4,598	120,055	4,113	3,690	1,460	282
Waverley E07000216	3,647	120,024	2,657	1,426	392	83
Winchester E07000094	3,433	119,744	2,461	1,306	405	95
Ashford E07000105	4,373	119,669	3,998	3,067	1,234	407
Ipswich E07000202	4,869	118,944	5,989	6,205	3,091	544
East Hampshire E07000085	3,436	118,808	1,889	1,150	383	78
Pembrokeshire W06000009	3,152	118,571	780	500	285	72
Ashfield E07000170	3,894	118,470	1,702	1,565	571	98
Havant E07000090	3,543	118,081	1,368	856	311	49
Gloucester E07000081	4,341	117,816	4,399	3,871	1,703	286
Exeter E07000041	3,488	117,312	5,304	3,389	1,047	169
Chichester E07000225	3,094	116,962	2,005	1,352	542	113
Newcastle-under-Lyme E07000195	3,370	115,774	2,133	1,442	502	78
Stroud E07000082	3,232	115,710	1,214	684	219	45
Newark and Sherwood E07000175	3,528	114,535	1,969	2,000	816	107
Cambridge E07000008	3,790	113,476	18,120	7,777	2,177	334
Sevenoaks E07000111	3,858	112,707	2,500	1,037	362	53
North Kesteven E07000139	3,107	112,662	1,070	794	366	76
Rushcliffe E07000176	3,362	112,214	2,209	915	331	47
Chorley E07000118	3,408	111,825	1,039	920	451	91
Gwynedd W06000002	3,086	111,446	1,437	935	413	76
Bracknell Forest E06000036	4,209	111,127	5,053	3,091	924	206
West Lancashire E07000127	3,033	110,645	1,394	1,530	706	121
Slough E06000039	6,842	110,212	17,754	15,836	6,733	1,119
Gedling E07000173	3,479	110,090	1,876	1,234	514	69
Conwy W06000003	2,936	109,757	1,018	662	304	64
Bassetlaw E07000171	3,426	109,625	1,623	1,972	1,022	134
Fareham E07000087	2,883	109,469	1,244	633	229	55
Dover E07000108	3,284	109,088	1,897	1,424	574	143
East Staffordshire E07000193	4,070	107,976	4,275	5,278	2,094	326
Wyre E07000128	2,859	107,709	581	483	247	67
Cheltenham E07000078	3,396	107,474	3,971	2,900	956	139
Hinckley and Bosworth E07000132	3,270	107,229	1,506	1,112	451	72
Erewash E07000036	3,162	107,146	1,206	989	346	57
West Oxfordshire E07000181	3,404	106,785	2,157	1,393	431	68
Kensington and Chelsea E09000020	3,727	106,682	20,887	8,669	2,998	412
South Staffordshire E07000196	2,823	106,341	629	414	213	49
Tunbridge Wells E07000116	3,551	105,831	3,329	1,883	621	94
South Ribble E07000126	3,156	105,660	971	797	375	76
Welwyn Hatfield E07000241	3,862	103,815	6,275	4,339	1,396	147
Broxtowe E07000172	3,049	102,537	2,730	1,850	663	111
Worthing E07000229	3,205	102,364	2,990	1,969	698	112
Folkestone and Hythe E07000112	2,984	101,622	2,439	1,852	666	195
Dartford E07000107	4,931	101,365	5,411	3,589	1,239	218
Lichfield E07000194	2,995	101,315	1,031	752	290	50
South Derbyshire E07000039	3,437	100,580	1,711	1,010	374	95
Darlington E06000005	3,197	100,200	1,807	1,690	785	120
North Norfolk E07000147	2,050	99,615	591	502	176	45
Mansfield E07000174	3,474	98,681	2,771	3,670	1,653	232
Mid Suffolk E07000203	2,634	98,582	766	498	197	22
North West Leicestershire E07000134	3,220	98,440	1,357	1,147	480	61
Chesterfield E07000034	2,967	98,352	1,020	762	394	74
North East Derbyshire E07000038	2,768	98,124	563	375	130	43
Rugby E07000220	3,706	97,906	5,661	5,158	1,716	215
Wyre Forest E07000239	2,746	96,531	968	972	339	53
Crawley E07000226	4,579	96,070	8,135	6,784	2,512	412
Cannock Chase E07000192	3,339	95,458	762	650	257	53
Bromsgrove E07000234	2,935	94,769	902	366	179	32
Lewes E07000063	2,576	94,527	1,648	811	290	56
Blaby E07000129	3,284	94,369	2,566	1,803	748	156
North Devon E07000043	2,550	94,235	911	640	234	41
Hertsmere E07000098	3,726	93,399	5,464	3,836	1,210	192
Worcester E07000237	3,180	92,870	3,534	3,043	1,069	174
Hart E07000089	2,988	92,848	2,032	1,144	336	60
Staffordshire Moorlands E07000198	2,361	92,663	404	275	113	29
Harborough E07000131	2,767	92,200	1,497	784	322	55
Eastbourne E07000061	2,739	91,681	3,454	2,658	977	177
Denbighshire W06000004	2,755	91,451	737	574	241	59
West Lindsey E07000142	2,509	91,185	768	481	185	21
Lincoln E07000138	3,051	90,922	3,777	3,964	1,805	295
Great Yarmouth E07000145	2,856	90,758	2,166	2,328	1,362	278
Gravesham E07000109	3,862	90,755	4,949	4,697	2,230	406
Fenland E07000010	3,036	90,632	2,635	3,681	2,146	334
Spelthorne E07000213	3,583	89,348	5,501	3,272	1,094	155
Monmouthshire W06000021	2,267	89,231	786	489	159	26
Rother E07000064	2,169	89,169	979	565	183	45
Woking E07000217	3,682	89,042	5,700	3,754	1,485	279
Tewkesbury E07000083	3,096	88,713	1,619	1,061	345	50
Babergh E07000200	2,288	88,494	807	547	174	31
Torfaen W06000020	2,896	88,059	565	515	182	58
Hartlepool E06000001	2,918	87,544	633	658	475	110
High Peak E07000037	2,478	87,308	631	324	177	15
Broxbourne E07000095	3,481	86,883	3,396	3,451	1,584	212
Cotswold E07000079	2,319	86,541	1,131	666	157	18
Uttlesford E07000077	2,876	85,775	1,590	776	272	52
Castle Point E07000069	2,506	85,609	654	533	241	47
South Hams E07000044	1,977	85,427	768	340	94	22
Three Rivers E07000102	3,025	83,721	4,120	2,152	659	94
Hastings E07000062	2,872	83,505	2,183	1,684	649	102
Forest of Dean E07000080	2,326	83,112	648	542	301	75
Burnley E07000117	3,407	83,069	2,208	3,231	2,245	486
Tandridge E07000215	2,919	82,330	1,614	735	234	44
Rochford E07000075	2,460	82,281	525	261	112	22
Surrey Heath E07000214	2,576	82,147	3,125	1,769	686	150
Mole Valley E07000210	2,318	81,957	1,722	1,001	331	57
South Holland E07000140	2,776	81,955	3,212	4,495	2,380	304
Rushmoor E07000092	3,786	81,544	5,764	5,139	2,397	1,129
East Cambridgeshire E07000009	2,590	80,970	2,025	1,449	643	85
Pendle E07000122	3,510	80,846	2,377	4,728	3,471	823
Harlow E07000073	3,662	80,315	4,022	3,778	1,348	203
Watford E07000103	3,892	79,640	9,425	6,650	2,298	342
Stevenage E07000243	3,294	79,174	3,732	2,370	802	123
Mid Devon E07000042	2,361	78,357	876	791	405	63
Runnymede E07000212	2,842	78,275	4,045	2,160	651	106
Redditch E07000236	2,924	77,713	2,370	2,866	1,017	146
Fylde E07000119	1,911	77,708	802	591	309	51
Gosport E07000088	2,504	77,655	846	671	235	41
Malvern Hills E07000235	1,756	76,251	757	481	192	49
Bolsover E07000033	2,485	74,883	842	1,177	764	122
Hyndburn E07000120	2,889	74,580	1,300	1,906	1,311	248
Tamworth E07000199	2,594	72,762	1,393	1,433	405	57
Brentwood E07000068	2,538	71,495	1,839	851	271	53
Epsom and Ewell E07000208	2,617	71,308	3,804	2,187	856	166
Derbyshire Dales E07000035	1,511	69,373	343	212	85	15
Ceredigion W06000008	1,564	67,848	1,208	602	225	27
Rossendale E07000125	2,165	67,172	510	546	394	84
Isle of Anglesey W06000001	1,792	66,462	305	196	101	22
Torridge E07000046	1,625	65,812	327	226	103	21
Maldon E07000074	1,742	63,685	378	251	125	26
Blaenau Gwent W06000019	2,108	63,594	429	464	254	55
North Warwickshire E07000218	1,870	61,897	621	486	130	32
Adur E07000223	1,820	60,751	1,009	628	291	45
Ribble Valley E07000124	1,509	59,209	413	281	136	12
West Devon E07000047	1,216	55,119	383	263	100	15
Merthyr Tydfil W06000024	1,882	54,784	778	765	514	116
Boston E07000136	2,072	54,259	4,188	5,472	3,779	732
Oadby and Wigston E07000135	1,587	50,500	2,970	1,745	798	146
Melton E07000133	1,384	48,933	618	584	207	26
Rutland E06000017	892	39,386	460	212	90	10
City of London E09000001	135	6,624	1,305	386	116	19
Isles of Scilly E06000053	68	1,940	27	14	4	1
Barnsley E08000038	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000016	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000016	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000016	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000016	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000016	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000016
Sheffield E08000039	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000019	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000019	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000019	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000019	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000019	given for its area before 1 April 2025, under E08000019

Download CSV Download JSON with full provenance

Map

Main language is English (English or Welsh in Wales) · 316 areas, each shaded by the fifth of the areas its figure falls in

1,940 to 91k
91k to 119k
119k to 146k
146k to 227k
227k to 929k

Boundaries: Council boundaries, May 2026, from the geography spine. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.

Source and licence

Publisher

Office for National Statistics (Census 2021)

Check it yourself

https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/create

Licence

Open Government Licence v3.0 – Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Retrieved

31 October 2026, 11:11 UTC

Raw files fetched

https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ltla23&dimensions=english_proficiencySHA-256 6076be9a0b74991d630a18c25aea4cf2578a4655bc8e7a7cb2b72eb07da9b6ed · 668,959 bytes
https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/dimensions?limit=500SHA-256 456ad46108ca3f46230c3ddad0b5fc65750b9dd557b85a949e0a67d4ca524d12 · 26,631 bytes

Verification

Verified against source, 31 October 2026, 11:15 UTC Run at 31 October 2026, 11:15 UTC; 1908 of 1908 figures matched the live source.

Result	Check	Detail
Pass	Provenance recorded	Office for National Statistics (Census 2021); Open Government Licence v3.0; retrieved 2026-10-31T11:11:34Z; 2 raw file(s)
Pass	Raw files match recorded SHA-256	2 of 2 files intact
Pass	Re-parsing raw files reproduces figures	1908 of 1908 figures and the headline reproduced
Pass	Figures are finite numbers	1908 figures, 0 invalid
Pass	Live source matches every figure	1908 of 1908 figures match exactly after downloading 2 source file(s) again (2 byte-identical); the headline matches
Pass	The ONS's answer for England and for Wales agrees	in 12 of 12 cells (a category in a nation) the councils sum to the nation's count at https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ctry&dimensions=english_proficiency within twice the square root of the councils summed (0 exactly; the largest gap 0.58 of its limit), the Census's cell-by-cell perturbation
Pass	Source page answers	https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/create – HTTP 200

Notes

Census Day was the 21st of March 2021. The ONS perturbs every count slightly to protect privacy, each cell on its own, so a council's categories can add up to a total a few people different from one topic to another, and its councils add up to England's and Wales's counts only within a few dozen.
By council as the ONS's Census API gives them, its lower-tier local authorities of 2023, with Barnsley's and Sheffield's figures under the codes they had until the 1st of April 2025, as the API gives them. Scotland's and Northern Ireland's censuses are separate, so their councils are not here.
Every council's categories together count all its usual residents, “Does not apply” those the question was not asked of.
The ONS's description of the topic, “Proficiency in English language (6 categories)”: How well people whose main language is not English (English or Welsh in Wales) speak English.