Age upon arrival in the UK by Proficiency in English (Great Britain) 2011

Dataset population: Persons aged 3 and over

Age upon arrival in the UK

The age of arrival in the UK is derived from the date that a person last arrived to live in the UK and their age. Short visits away from the UK are not counted in determining the date that a person last arrived.

Age of arrival is only applicable to usual residents who were not born in the UK. It does not include usual residents born in the UK who have emigrated and since returned; these are recorded in the category 'Born in the UK'.

Proficiency in English

Proficiency in English language classifies people whose main language is not English (or not English or Welsh in Wales) according to their ability to speak English. A person is classified in one of the categories:

  • Can speak English very well
  • Can speak English well
  • Cannot speak English well
  • Cannot speak English

This question was handled slightly differently in the England and Wales censuses.

In the English census a tick box was used in Question 18, asking 'What is your main language?', giving the option of 'English' or 'Other'.

In the Welsh census, a tick box was used in Question 18, asking 'What is your main language?', giving the option of 'English or Welsh' or 'Other'.

Those who ticked 'Other' would be asked about their ability to speak English.

A consequence of this is that a person who reports their main language to be Welsh and completed the Welsh census, will not be asked about their ability to speak English. Whereas a person who indicates that their main language is Welsh and lives in England would be asked about 'their ability to speak English'.

Copies of the census forms can be found here: UK census forms.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated September 20, 2022, 17:11 (BST)
Created September 20, 2022, 16:55 (BST)
Visibility Public
Year 2011
Topics Demography
Language
Migration
Units Persons
Geographic Layer Census Data Zones
Census Electoral Divisions
Census Intermediate Zones
Census Wards
Council Areas
Counties
Countries
Local Authorities
London Boroughs
Lower Super Output Areas
Merging Local Authorities
Merging Wards and Electoral Divisions
Metropolitan Districts
Middle Super Output Areas
Non-Metropolitan Districts
Output Areas
Regions
Unitary Authorities
Frequency Decennial
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5257/census/aggregate-2011-2
Citation Office for National Statistics; National Records of Scotland; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency; UK Data Service. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5257/census/aggregate-2011-2
Geographical Coverage Location Great Britain
Granularity Country level down to Output Areas
Geographic Spatial data {"geo_type": "multipolygon", "lat": "55.4099", "lon": "-2.95146", "left": "-7.66569", "top": "60.8457", "right": "1.76277", "bottom": "49.9742", "srid": null, "accuracy": null, "source": null}