United Kingdom
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United Kingdom (UK)
ECRML
Signed
2000
Ratified
2001
In Force
2001
FCNM
Signed
1995
Ratified
1998
In Force
1998
Country Description
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Official Language(s)
To increase their visibility, recognised Sign Languages are always listed as official languages even if they are not yet technically official. The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue/Glottolog and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on ‘Italian’).
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
British Sign Language (BSL) Sign Language |
British Sign Language | England, Scotland, Wales | 2022 | British Sign Language Act | / | 21 635 (given) | Main language | 2021 | 6b (Threatened) | ||
|
No official language ('De facto' Official Language: English) Germanic |
English | Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | 1535 / 1707 / 1800 | Public Act, 27 Henry VIII, c. 26 (An Act for Laws and Justice to be ministered in Wales in like Form as it is in this Realm ['Union of Wales']) / Acts of Union 1707 / An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland | / | Approx. 56 700 000 (all UK, given) | Proficient users | 2021 | 1 (National) |
ECRML-Recognised Languages
This includes languages recognised under the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML). The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue/Glottolog and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on ‘Czech’).
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level | ECRML level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cornish Celtic |
Kernewek / Kernowek | Predominantly in Cornwall | 2002 | ECRML | / | 567 (given) | Main language | 2021 | 9 (Reawakening) | Part II & Part III | ||
|
Irish Celtic |
Gaeilge | Northern Ireland; spread throughout with the largest concentration in the greater Belfast area | 2022 | Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 | / | Approx. 228 600 (given) | Some Irish ability | 2021 | 6b (Threatened) | Part II & Part III | ||
|
Manx Gaelic Celtic |
Gaelg | Sprea across the Isle of Man | 1985 (first step) | Report of the Select Committee on the Greater Use of Manx Gaelic | / | 8 (given) | Main language | 2021 | 9 (Reawakening) | Part II & Part III | ||
|
Scots Germanic |
Scots | Scotland; throughout | 2025 | Scottish Languages Act | / | Approx. 1 500 000 (given) | Speakers | 2011 | 5 (Developing) | Part II | ||
|
Scottish Gaelic Celtic |
Gàidhlig | Scotland; largest concentrations of Gaelic speakers are found in Na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Western Isles), the Highlands, and Argyll. Significant concentrations in the urban areas of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness | 2025 | Scottish Languages Act | / | Approx. 57 000 (given) | Speakers | 2011 | 2 (Provincial) | Part II & Part III | ||
|
Ulster Scots Germanic |
Ulstèr-Scotch | Parts of Northern Ireland and in Donegal in Ireland | 1998 | The Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement) | / | 16 (given) | Main language | 2021 | Listed under 'Scots' - 5 (Developing) | Part II | ||
|
Welsh Celtic |
Cymraeg | Across the whole of Wales. The highest proportions of Welsh speakers are found in Gwynedd, the Isle of Anglesey and Ceredigion | 1993 | Welsh Language Act | / | Approx. 538 000 (given) | Speakers | 2021 | 2 (Provincial) | Part II & Part III |
Non-ECRML Languages
This includes languages listed with an 'established status' in Ethnologue, the Endangered Languages Project or the UNESCO World Atlas (once it is available again). The data on legal recognition, national number, and endangerment level was taken over from the original source, reflecting these sources’ current state and gaps of knowledge.
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Angloromani Indo-Aryan |
Romanes | Scattered | / | / | / | 2 100 | Users | 2021 | 6a* (Vigorous) | ||
|
Baltic Romani Indo-Aryan |
Roma | / | / | / | / | 58 460 (total) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | Vulnerable | ||
|
Carpathian Romani Indo-Aryan |
Central Romani | / | / | / | / | 472 470 (total) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | At risk | ||
|
Eastern Yiddish Germanic |
Yidish | Hackney, Haringey, and Salford counties | / | / | / | 5 340 | Users | 2021 | 5* (Developing) | ||
|
French Romance |
Français | Scattered | / | / | / | 12 935 000 | Users | 2021 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
German Germanic |
Deutsch | Scattered | / | / | / | 4 058 100 | Users | 2021 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
Guernésiais Romance |
Dgernesiais | Guernsey, Alderney, Herm, and Sark islands | / | / | / | 200 | Speakers | 2014 | 8b (Nearly extinct) | ||
|
Jèrriais Romance |
Jèrriais | Jersey | 2019 | JÈRRIAIS: PROMOTION BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR (P.143/2018) – AMENDMENT | / | 2 874 | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | Threatened | ||
|
Norn Germanic |
Norn | Highland council area: Caithness; Orkney Islands; Shetland Islands | / | / | / | No known L1 speakers | / | / | 9 (Dormant) | ||
|
Polari Cant |
Palare | Scattered | / | / | / | No known L1 speakers | / | / | 9 (Second language only) | ||
|
Shelta Cant |
De Gammon | Scattered in Northern Ireland; major cities of England and Scotland | / | / | / | 16 700 | Users | 2008 | 6a* (Vigorous) | ||
|
Sinte Romani Indo-Aryan |
Romanes | / | / | / | / | 318 920 (total) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | At risk | ||
|
Traveller Scottish Cant |
Scots-Romani | Major cities | / | / | / | 460 | Users | 2011 | 6b* (Threatened) | ||
|
Welsh Romani Indo-Aryan |
Romnimus | England and Wales, scattered | / | / | / | No known L1 speakers | / | / | 9 (Dormant) |
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