2011 Census: England and Wales

Key Figures

• Ninety two per cent (49.8 million) of usual residents aged three years and over spoke English (English or Welsh in Wales) as their main language.
• Of the eight per cent (4.2 million) of usual residents aged three years and over with a main language other than English, 79 per cent (3.3 million) could speak English very well or well.
• In 2011, less than half a per cent (138,000) of all usual residents aged three years and over could not speak English.
• The second most reported main language was Polish (one per cent, 546,000), followed by Panjabi (half of one per cent, 273,000) and Urdu (half of one per cent, 269,000).
• A small percentage (22,000) of usual residents reported a sign language as their main language; of these usual residents 70 per cent (15,000) used British Sign Language.
• Thirteen per cent (7.1 million), of usual residents in households in 2011 lived in one person households, the same percentage as in 2001 (13 percent, 6.5 million).
• The percentage of usual residents in households who were part of a one family married couple household, where at least one household member was aged under 65 years, decreased by six percentage points from 50 per cent (25.3 million) in 2001 to 44 per cent (24.4 million) in 2011.
• The percentage of usual residents in households who were part of a one family cohabiting couple household, where at least one household member was aged under 65 years, increased by two percentage points from ten per cent (4.9 million) in 2001 to 12 per cent (6.5 million) in 2011.
• The percentage of usual residents in households who were part of a one family lone parent household, where at least one household member was aged under 65 years, increased by one percentage point from 11 per cent (5.4 million) in 2001 to 12 per cent (6.5 million) in 2011.
• In 2011, seven per cent (3.7 million) of usual residents in England and Wales were 16 to 74 year old full-time students compared to five per cent (2.6 million) in 2001. Of the 16 to 74 year old full-time students in 2011, 29 per cent (1.1 million) reported that they were employed at the time of the census.
• In 2011, the majority of 16 to 74 year olds in employment travelled to work by driving a car or van (58 per cent, 15.3 million). The second most reported method of travel to work for 16 to 74 year olds in employment was by foot (11 per cent, 2.8 million), whilst the third was travel by bus, minibus or coach (seven per cent, 1.9 million).

Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication .