Statistics published today show 87,100 people over three years old in Scotland have some Gaelic language skills. The figure represents 1.7% of the population.
There has been a decline of around 1,000 speakers over the previous ten years.
The latest detail from the 2011 Census report indicates 57,600 users could speak
Gaelic -
However, there was a rise in the numbers of under-
Some 23,400 people were able to understand Gaelic but could not speak, read or write it while 32,400 had full skills in the language.
Highland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Glasgow City were the council areas with the largest numbers of people with some Gaelic language ability. Almost half of those with some Gaelic language skills nationally lived in these regions.
At 49.7%, the Western Isles had the highest proportion (of all people with some Gaelic language skills) of those that can understand, speak, read and write Gaelic.
Over 87,000 Scots have some Gaelic
30 September 2015