The number of Euskaldunes has doubled in 40 years, but the use of the Basque language is not progressing at that rate
The EiTB Data report published on the occasion of Euskera Day shows that 45% of the inhabitants of the ACV are Euskaldunes and that the language has grown considerably in Álava and Bizkaia, although the daily use of the Basque language is not yet predominant, especially in the capitals and large urban centres.
Map of Basque knowledge in the Basque Country and Navarre from 1986 to 2021
EiTB Data has published an X-ray of the evolution of the Basque language , and one of the main conclusions is that the change has been consolidated: The number of Basque speakers has doubled since the late 1980s in the Basque Country, and thenumber of Euskaldunes has risen from 45% to .
In Bizkaia, the growth has been remarkable, while in Gipuzkoa it has been more moderate because the initial percentages were very high, with some exceptions such as Getaria, where the proportion of Basques has decreased by 10 points in recent decades.
In Navarre, the picture is more unbalanced. In the north of the territory, 80% of the inhabitants are Basques, and the percentages are around in many places (such as the Baztan Valley), while in the south there are still very few Basques, in Tudela, for example, they are 1%. There are also intermediate quotas, such as Alsasua, where the number of Basques has tripled (from 12% to 37%).
However, the main challenge is thesocial use of the Basque language. According to the study, the usual use is concentrated mainly in Gipuzkoa, in the east of Bizkaia and on the coast. In the three capitals the percentages do not exceed 15%. The data of Vitoria-Gasteiz have been the most initiated since 2016, and in Bilbao there has also been a significant increase from 2016.
The report also mentions a structural phenomenon : the presence of the population from other Autonomous Communities is highly correlated with the lower use of the Basque language. The same is not true of the foreign population, whose level of knowledge of the language is low, but whose statistical weight is not related to the decline in use in municipalities, which emphasizes the cultural impact of migration in the 1960s and 1970s.
Number of Basques: correlation between foreigners and other autonomous communities
You might like
Faced with the ban, Euskal Udalekuak says he is "working" to offer "a nice and quiet summer to children"
The association has sent a message to the 200 families who have applied to spend the summer in the summer camps in Bernedo, explaining that they are "working with their lawyer to design the most appropriate alternatives and alternatives" for children and families. The Álava Council has imposed the ban and shared another message on its profile on the Instagram social network, saying they are "sad and concerned" and denouncing that "despite meeting all legal requirements" they have denied the possibility of organising the colonies.
Best moments of "Living Nature": Thursday, June 4, 2026
The cameras installed in the Urdaibai biosphere have once again left us with spectacular images. On this occasion we can see the young foxes playing under the eyes of the sheep. We can also follow the diary of several birds: the heron with chicks in its nest, a brunette, a bird of prey and the big woodpeckers.
The Alavesa Council has sanctioned the Sarrea Association and refused permission to the Dorrekoa Association, which intended to organize the Bernedo Summer Camp instead
He has imposed a fine of 9,000 euros on the Sarrea Association, as well as the impossibility of applying for a public subsidy for 3 years and the disqualification for 3 years from organizing or carrying out leisure activities with minors. He has rejected the application for authorization from the Dorrekoa Association, which intended to organize a summer camp instead of Sarea, on charges of operating as an instrumental entity to prevent the disqualification of Saroa, which would be a fraud under the law.
This afternoon, the last farewell will be given to the five police officers killed in an accident in Elgoibar
The funeral for five dead men will take place at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of Pamplona.
There will be news: the summer camp in Bernedo, the funeral for the dead law enforcement officers and the performance of Tilda Swinton at the Guggenheim
In two words, a summary of what will be news of the Present today.
Withholding at the N-1 in Lasarte towards Irun due to an accident
As a result of the collision, one of the lanes of the road at the height of kilometre 452 had to be cut.
?fmt=webp-alpha&qlt=80)
The 28 people arrested for incidents in connection with an act in Vito Quiles have been released
Sixteen of them have been charged with a crime of public disorder and twelve have been charged with an attack on law enforcement officials.
Euthanasia claims in the Basque Country have increased by 61% and the average length of the process has fallen to 39.4 days
According to the annual report published this Thursday, 107 applications were approved in 2025, 78 benefits were implemented and 31 people died before the completion of the process.
Three Molotov cocktails launched at Bayonne Subprefecture
According to reports from the Prefecture of the Atlantic Pyrenees, the attack took place around 4 a.m., but there was no significant damage.
Three persons investigated in Bizkaia for pretending to be civil guards to obtain data on a victim of gender-based violence
One of those investigated had a sentimental relationship with the woman, with whom he lived in Barakaldo.