Use of Basque

VII. According to the results of the Sociolinguistic Survey, the use of Basque has also increased. 21.9% of the population speak Basque as well as Spanish or more. A total of 412,821 inhabitants in 2021 and 271,121 thirty years ago (an increase of 6.4 points in the last 30 years). This increase occurred not only in the three territories, but also in the three capitals.

Looking at the age range, as indicated by the knowledge data, the highest percentage of those who use Basque is the youngest (33.5%) and the lowest is the over 65 year old (16.7%).

This increase has occurred in the areas where the population lives the most (in the first, second and third sociolinguistic areas: 4.4 in the first; 6.4 in the second; 7.3 in the third), and the use has decreased in the fourth, which consists mostly of small towns (-9.7). This change has been influenced, among other things, by mobility within and outside the territory.

Among the factors that influence the use of the language, language fluency and the network of relationships are usually the most important. When these conditions are met, it is usually the most likely to use Basque. Thus, the fields of use are also analyzed in the sociolinguistic survey and it has been seen that there has been an increase in both formal and informal contexts.

Basque is used the most in municipal services (27.4%). Then, among colleagues (26.8%); then, in health services (23.1%) and 22.1% among friends. This data is also particularly indicative because it indicates that the choice made in favor of Basque in the eyes of the Administration is increasingly in favor of Basque.

Basque transmission

Regarding the transmission of Basque through the family, it has increased both in Basque-speaking couples and in mixed couples. In order to find out the language behavior of families with children aged 3-15, the respondents were asked which language they have passed on to their children. To analyze this transmission, the language ability of the parents and the first language were taken into account.

When both parents are Basque speakers and when their first language is Basque, 98% of the children have transmitted only Basque at home and 2% both Basque and Spanish. When only one of the parents is Basque and his first language is Basque, 84% have passed it on to Basque and Spanish and 16% to Spanish.

Whether the parent is a mother or a father, there is a difference in transmission based on sex. In the case where the mother or father is only Basque-speaking, 49.9% of mothers transmit Basque and Spanish and 41.7% of fathers transmit Basque and Spanish.

Great support for the Basque language

67% of the population of the Basque Country aged 16 or over are in favor of promoting the use of Basque, 26.3% neither in favor nor against and 6.8% against. Thus, the attitude in favor of promoting the Basque language has increased in the last 30 years. Comparing the data from 1991 and 2021, the percentage of those in favor of promoting the Basque language has increased by 12 points (67% in 2021 and 55% in 1991).

74.7% of the inhabitants of the Basque Country aged 16 or over believe that to join the Administration one should know Basque; 89.3% said that all children should learn Basque, while 49.3% said that radio or television should broadcast more programs in Basque.
Minister Zupiria has stated that "the Basque law, the agreement in favor of society and the various resources placed along the route have helped to make the process of revitalization of the Basque language positive." These data confirm to us that society's commitment to the Basque language has been strong and continues to be strong even today."