Sociolinguistic survey 2006

This 4th survey organised in the same conditions as the three others concerns inhabitants aged 16 years old or above. The five chapters cover linguistic competence, family transmission, the use of languages and motivation concerning the Basque language. 

The Basque Country as a whole

In the Basque Autonomous Region (BAR), out of 1,851,000 inhabitants, 558,000 (30%) speak Basque well, 340,000 (18%) a little and 953,000 (52%) not at all.

In Navarre out of 510,000 inhabitants, 56,000 (11%) speak Basque well, 40,000 (8%) speak a little and 414,000 (81%) not at all.

In the Northern Basque Country (NBC), out of 230,000 inhabitants, 52,000 (23%) speak Basque well, 20,000 (9%) speak a little and 158,000 (68%) not at all.

Overall out of 2,591,000 inhabitants, 666,000 (26%) speak Basque well, 400,000 (15%) speak a little and 1,525.000 (59%) not at all.

Northern Basque Country

The survey was carried out in co-operation between the Basque Regional Government, the Public Office of the Basque Language, the French National Institute for Statistics & Economic Studies (INSSE) and the Siadeco consultancy. 2,000 interviewees were questioned in three areas: the Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz conurbation (BAB), Inland Labourd and Lower-Navarre/Soule.

Below is a table of linguistic competence:

Population (+16)

 TOTAL
2006
230.000 inh.
BAB
101.000 inh.

Inland Labourd
96.000 inh.

 L.Navarre
& Soule
33.000 inh.
Basque speakers 52.000
23%
 9.000
9%
 25.000
26%
 18.000
56%
Receptive bilinguals 20.000
8%
 5.000
5%
 11.000
11%
 4.000
10%
Total bilinguals
 72.000
31%
 14.000
14%
 36.000
37%
 22.000
66%
French monolinguals 
 158.000
69%
 86.000
86%
 61.000
63%
 11.000
34%

Source: 4th Sociolinguistic Survey. Basque Government, 2006.