Non-English speakers more likely to suffer poor health, census reveals

About 80 per cent of those with English as their main language reported “good” health, while 88 per cent of those with a main language other than English who were “proficient” in English also had “good” health.

But only 65 per cent of those who were “non-proficient” in English reported good health, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

For the first time, the 2011 census analysed the links between health and English language proficiency among residents of England and Wales.

English was the main language for 92 per cent or 49.8 million residents aged three and over in England and Wales in 2011, the census revealed. Of the remaining eight per cent – 4.2 million – who had a different main language, the majority – 3.3 million – were proficient in English, while just 863,000 were “non-proficient”.

It is possible that some of those in “not good” health may have less opportunity to improve 
their English speaking skills,
owing to, for example, being 
less mobile, the ONS added.

There were 88 main spoken languages other than English classified in the 2011 census.

The largest main language other than English was Polish, which had 546,000 residents and 72 per cent who were proficient in English.

The second largest was Panjabi - the native language of the Punjab region of Pakistan and India – with 273,000 residents, 68 per cent of whom were proficient in English.