Did you know that the First World War was devastating for the Welsh language?
It is estimated that around 20,000 Welsh speakers lost their lives during the “Great War”. It is also believed that the Welsh-speaking population fell from 43.5% to 37.1% in the 1910s, largely because of the war.
However, the damage was already being done. Between 1901 and 1911, the number of monoglot Welsh speakers (people within Cymru who could speak Welsh but not English) fell sharply from 30 to 19%. It would fall further to just 6.6% in 1921 as the influence of English (and the access to education) rose.
Today, the Welsh language is classed as “vulnerable to extinction” according to UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. Let’s all learn some Welsh and ensure that our ancient language grows.
The first map shows the population by local government in 1921, whilst the second (also from 1921) shows the population by Civil Parish.
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DIGITAL Welsh Histories Magazine – January 2026
Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.