On International Mother Language Day, UNESCO data reveals that 20% of the local population consists of immigrants, including 1,500 people from the Americas and 400 from Africa, creating a unique social landscape in the Pyrenees.
While languages such as Arabic, Romanian, and Portuguese are common in private life, the Aranese language (Occitan) is currently a minority. Most newcomers adopt Spanish for public interaction, posing a challenge for local linguistic preservation.
“"Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going."
Local integration policies aim to promote Aranese by respecting the original identities of migrants. UNESCO has also launched digital initiatives to encourage global linguistic diversity among young students in 2026.
