The number of people speaking Welsh fluently has fallen by 7,000 over the last 10 years, a new survey has revealed.

The Welsh Language Use Survey for 2013/14 shows that 11% or 310,600 of all people aged three and over living in Wales could speak Welsh fluently.

That is down on 12% recorded in a similar study in 2004/06 – the equivalent of 317,300 people.

However a greater proportion of the population now consider themselves to speak Welsh but not fluently.

Of the population overall, 23% report that they can speak Welsh.

Click here to read the full findings of the Welsh Language Survey

More people were using Welsh daily in the recent study, with 353,000 (13%), compared with 342,000 people in the 2004/06 surveys.

A smaller percentage of people of all Welsh speakers also considered themselves to be fluent in Welsh.

In 2004/06 the corresponding figures were 58% fluent (317,300 people) and 21% could speak a fair amount (115,300 people).

'A lot to be positive about'

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “I am pleased that we have worked with the Welsh Language Commissioner on this important survey – it gives us a timely and extremely helpful picture of the use of the language across Wales.

"There is a lot to be positive about from the report’s findings but there also challenges ahead.

"This is a crucial time for the language and as a Government, we remain determined to address these challenges and ensure that the language has a thriving and secure future.

Fluent Welsh speakers by age

“Encouraging people to use the language in their daily lives is at the heart of Bwrw Mlaen, our vision for the future of the language. The new standards, which will go before the Assembly in March, will also be an important milestone creating clear legal rights.

“It is crucial that people have the opportunity to practice their Welsh and boost their confidence levels – be it in education, in the workplace or socially.

"There is already a great deal of good work underway across Wales which reinforces our policy vision of focusing on increasing use as well as numbers of Welsh speakers. By working together we can build on this and ensure a living language for the future.”

The Welsh Language Commissioner, Meri Huws, said: “Working with the Welsh Government on commissioning this significant research was important to me. The research provides a robust evidence base; and will enable me to as Welsh Language Commissioner, the Government and the many other institutions and organisations working towards making the Welsh language central to public life in Wales, to plan our work and our priorities. Data and research can lead to positive outcomes for those who use the Welsh language, as the response to our inquiry into primary care has proved.

“This is an interim report and I look forward to the publication of the full report, based on further evidence, by the end of the year.

“One of the Welsh Language Commissioner’s functions is to produce a five-year report on the position of the Welsh language. The findings of this survey will be important as I prepare this report, and will enhance the understanding about the Welsh language in various aspects of life for individuals and communities throughout Wales.”