Numbers of children speaking Welsh more than double that of those of working age or pensioners, new analysis of census data has uncovered. An updated picture of the 2011 Census from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed 2.4 times more children aged under 16 are able to speak Welsh than those aged 16-64 and 2.3 times more than those over 65. The figures indicating a larger youth base for the language gave hope to campaigners, after the first batch of figures released after the 2011 census in December showed Welsh speakers across Wales dwindling from 20.5% to 19% over a decade – labelled a “crisis” by activists.

The statistics revealed just over a third (35.6%) of 15-year-old boys said they had Welsh skills compared to 44.7% of girls, with 28.8% of 16 and 17 year old boys compared to 37.7% of girls. This gap disappears for those over 50. The figures also revealed huge differences in proliferation of Welsh across different council areas, with South East Wales seeing very low levels of knowledge of the language in adults.