Regional languages in France: more teaching, less speaking

Teaching of regional languages in France is improving in many areas, with Breton, Corsican, Basque, and Gallo among those becoming more commonly taught to schoolchildren.

Figures from a Senate report of October 5, 2025 give an update on the progress of the ‘Molac Law’ of May 21, 2021, which recognises the heritage value of regional languages in France, and states the need to maintain and teach them to new generations.

The law also outlines suggestions for teaching of the languages, as well as the financial contribution of local authorities to schools that offer bilingual teaching (although the Constitutional Council amended two of the law’s articles on this, which critics say weakened schools’ ability to practice immersive teaching).

The report shows that 168,000 pupils nationwide are learning a regional language, with a 47% rise in primary school pupils who are doing so (to 107,000 pupils) since 2021.

The most-taught languages, in terms of pupil numbers, are Occitan, Corsican, Breton, Catalan, and Basque.

The figures show changes in 2023 from 2022, including (in order of percentage change):

• Languedocien: Up 123%, to 575 pupils

• Breton: 86%, to 19,941

• Corsican: 67%, to 20,326

• Gallo: 66%, to 126

• Gascon: 56%, to 866

• Limousin: 51%, to 112

• Francique: 42%, to 178

• Basque: 48% to 11,311

• Occitan: 30%, to 26,099

• Nissart: 18%, to 58

• Catalan: 3%, to 13,289

• Auvergnat: stable, at 1

Languages in the overseas territories also saw an increase, including:

• Melanesian: Up 167% to 147

• Tahitian: Up 145% to 3,565

• Créole: Up 92% to 8,896

Some languages had seen a decrease in teaching, however, including:

• Alsacien: Down 7% to 458

• Provençal: Down 24% to 1,244

In absolute terms, the number of pupils studying the languages is as follows (from most to fewest): 

• Occitan: 26,099

• Corsican: 20,326

• Breton: 19,941

• Catalan: 13,289

• Basque: 11,311

• Créole: 8,896

• Tahitian: 3,565

• Provençal: 1,244

• Gascon: 866

• Languedocien: 575

• Alsacien: 458

• Francique: 178

• Melanesian: 147

• Gallo: 126

• Limousin: 112

• Nissart: 58

• Auvergnat: 1

The report also pointed out some less positive trends, including:

• The increase in pupils learning regional languages is not enough to compensate for the overall decline of speakers

• Regional language learning takes a hit upon entering secondary school (college), due to college reforms and the requirements of the Baccalaureate

• Difficulties in applying for school allowance funding for the teaching in immersive settings

• Mixed implementation of regional languages in some areas, due to issues between local authorities and the state (e.g. a lack of local teachers who can teach the languages).

The report continues to call for improved regional language teaching and the need for the languages to continue beyond primary school.