*These census figures have been criticised by the British Deaf Association, amongst others, for not including all sign language speakers due to the nature of the census question.
This statistic shows which sign languages were used in England and Wales at the time of the 2011 National Census.
15,487 residents of England and Wales declared that they used British sign language, which was approximately 5.5 times more than residents using other sign languages, including Irish Sign Language.
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (March 4, 2013). Users of sign languages in England and Wales in 2011, by type* [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 22, 2026, from /statistics/332536/census-sign-language-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Users of sign languages in England and Wales in 2011, by type*." Chart. March 4, 2013. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 22, 2026. /statistics/332536/census-sign-language-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2013). Users of sign languages in England and Wales in 2011, by type*. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2026. /statistics/332536/census-sign-language-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Users of Sign Languages in England and Wales in 2011, by Type*." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 4 Mar 2013, /statistics/332536/census-sign-language-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Users of sign languages in England and Wales in 2011, by type* ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/332536/census-sign-language-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited July 22, 2026)
Users of sign languages in England and Wales in 2011, by type* [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), March 4, 2013. [Online]. Available: /statistics/332536/census-sign-language-united-kingdom-uk/
