what percentage of uk can speak english

In England and Wales, about 91.1% of people speak English as their main language, and another 7.1% can speak English well or very well, based on the 2021 Census.

For the wider UK, the best quick rule of thumb is that well over 98% of people can speak English to some degree, while a small minority cannot speak it well or at all.

Quick breakdown

• English as main language: 91.1%

• Speaks English well or very well, but not main language: 7.1%

• Does not speak English well or at all: 1.8%

Important nuance

That 91.1% figure is for England and Wales , not the entire UK.

Also, some sources summarize this as “over 98% can speak English” because they combine people whose main language is English with those who can speak it well or very well.

Simple answer

If you want a single number for a social post, roughly 98%+ of people in the UK can speak English , but the most solid official figure I found is for England and Wales specifically, where 91.1% report English as their main language.