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CONNECTICUT
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for Connecticut:

The data below describe the state rankings and selected characteristics of the immigrant and native-born populations in Connecticut in 2011.

Rankings
The following shows Connecticut's rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Size of the foreign-born, limited English proficient (LEP) population, 2011: 18 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 36 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 17 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 39 out of 51

Data Highlights
For data on these topics, click on the link:
Who Are the Foreign Born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the census who were not US citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were US citizens in one of three categories: 1) people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) people born in United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or 3) people who were born abroad to at least one US-citizen parent.

We use the terms immigrants and foreign born interchangeably.

What Does "Limited English Proficient" (LEP) Mean?
In this fact sheet, and in any data from the decennial census or American Community Survey, the term limited English proficient refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English “not at all,” “not well,” or “well” on their survey questionnaire. Persons who speak only English or who report speaking English “very well” are considered proficient in English.

Population by English Proficiency

The foreign-born, limited English proficient (LEP) population age 5 and older in Connecticut increased by 40.6 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in Connecticut who were LEP increased from 141,757 to 199,312, representing a change of 40.6 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 93,500 to 141,757 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 51.6 percent.

At the national level, the size of the foreign-born LEP population increased from 9,120,221 to 15,672,816 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 71.8 percent, and grew from 15,672,816 to 20,486,938 (30.7 percent), between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 42.0 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in Connecticut were LEP.
In 2011, 42.0 percent of Connecticut's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 38.8 percent in 2000 and 33.9 percent in 1990. Only 2.7 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in Connecticut were LEP in 2011.

At the national level, 51.0 percent of the foreign-born population were LEP in 2011, compared to 51.0 percent in 2000, and 47.0 percent in 1990.

In Connecticut, 82.9 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 119,003 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 82.9 percent spoke English "very well."

Nationwide, 78.1 percent of minors in such families were English proficient.

Note: these families might or might not interact in English at home.

English Proficiency by Citizenship

Naturalized citizens in Connecticut were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in Connecticut in 2011, 31.4 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 52.5 percent of noncitizens.

Similarly, at the national level, 38.9 percent of naturalized citizens were LEP compared to 61.0 percent of noncitizens.

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

English Proficiency by Language Group

Rates of limited English proficiency were higher among speakers of certain language groupings than among others.
Among the foreign born older than 5 in Connecticut in 2011, 71.8 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 45.3 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 47.6 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 41.9 percent of those who spoke other languages.

At the national level, 70.2 percent of foreign-born persons who spoke Spanish at home were LEP, compared to 42.7 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 57.3 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 40.7 percent of those who spoke other languages.

  • Read more about the LEP population, its growth, and linguistic diversity in the nation and all 50 states in Limited English Proficient Individuals in the United States: Number, Share, Growth, and Linguistic Diversity.
  • Find county-level data on the number, share, and linguistic diversity of LEP individuals in LEP Data Brief compiled by the Migration Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. The county-level data offer two different counts - LEP individuals as a percentage of the total county population as well as in absolute numbers - by language or language group across 3,221 counties in the United States (including Puerto Rico). (Note: the national and state-level estimates in the LEP Data Brief might not match exactly the estimates shown in the "Language and Education" Fact Sheet because different years of ACS were used).

Linguistically Isolated Households

Of all of the households in Connecticut in 2011, 5.1 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In Connecticut, 5.1 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 24.8 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 18.5 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 21.6 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 14.0 percent of households speaking other languages.

Nationwide, 4.6 percent of household were linguistically isolated. Of Spanish-speaking households, 24.3 percent were linguistically isolated, compared to 15.8 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 27.7 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 17.1 percent of households speaking other languages.

Educational Attainment

The number of immigrants in Connecticut with a college degree increased by 60.9 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in Connecticut older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 83,495 to 134,356, representing a difference of 60.9 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 49,769 to 83,495 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 67.8 percent.

At the national level, the foreign-born population with a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 3,103,918 to 5,862,756 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 88.9 percent, and grew from 5,862,756 to 9,384,596 (60.1 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

The number of immigrants in Connecticut with less than a high school diploma increased by 0.3 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in Connecticut who had not completed high school increased from 88,236 to 88,494, or 0.3 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma decreased from 89,702 to 88,236 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of -1.6 percent.

At the national level, the foreign-born population without a high school diploma increased from 6,285,122 to 9,297,557 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 47.9 percent, and grew from 9,297,557 to 10,814,235 (16.3 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 33.0 percent of immigrants in Connecticut had a college degree, while 21.7 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 33.0 percent of Connecticut's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 21.7 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 36.8 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 8.7 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 27.7 percent of the foreign born in Connecticut had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 29.3 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 21.0 percent had a college degree, and 37.8 percent lacked a high school diploma.

Nationally, 27.3 percent of the foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011 compared to 24.1 percent in 2000 and 20.3 percent in 1990. At the same time, 31.5 percent of the foreign born at the national level lacked a high school diploma in 2011 compared to 38.2 percent in 2000 and 41.2 percent in 1990.

Of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens in 2011, 35.0 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 30.6 percent of noncitizens.
In Connecticut, 35.0 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 30.6 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 17.2 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 26.8 percent of noncitizens.

At the national level, 33.4 percent of naturalized citizens and 21.5 percent of noncitizens had a college degree. Further, 21.4 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 41.0 percent of noncitizens.

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Education by Language Spoken at Home

The educational attainment of all adults in Connecticut in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in Connecticut, 38.4 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 14.5 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 34.2 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 56.5 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 51.4 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 7.1 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 32.9 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 18.8 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.1 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 10.5 percent who spoke other languages.

Table 1. Change in the Limited English Proficient (LEP) Population of Connecticut, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of Connecticut, Age 5 and Older 3,055,053 100.0 3,184,514 100.0 3,384,503 100.0
Speak only English 2,592,563 84.9 2,600,601 81.7 2,660,477 78.6
Speak language other than English 462,490 15.1 583,913 18.3 724,026 21.4
Speak English "very well" 280,017 9.2 349,114 11.0 445,022 13.1
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 182,473 6.0 234,799 7.4 279,004 8.2
Native Born 2,778,853 100.0 2,818,980 100.0 2,909,960 100.0
Speak only English 2,500,233 90.0 2,499,099 88.7 2,551,052 87.7
Speak language other than English 278,620 10.0 319,881 11.3 358,908 12.3
Speak English "very well" 189,647 6.8 226,839 8.0 279,216 9.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 88,973 3.2 93,042 3.3 79,692 2.7
Foreign Born 276,200 100.0 365,534 100.0 474,543 100.0
Speak only English 92,330 33.4 101,502 27.8 109,425 23.1
Speak language other than English 183,870 66.6 264,032 72.2 365,118 76.9
Speak English "very well" 90,370 32.7 122,275 33.5 165,806 34.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 93,500 33.9 141,757 38.8 199,312 42.0
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Connecticut, Age 5 and Older 129,461 4.2 329,450 10.8 199,989 6.3
Speak only English 8,038 0.3 67,914 2.6 59,876 2.3
Speak language other than English 121,423 26.3 261,536 56.5 140,113 24.0
Speak English "very well" 69,097 24.7 165,005 58.9 95,908 27.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 52,326 28.7 96,531 52.9 44,205 18.8
Native Born 40,127 1.4 131,107 4.7 90,980 3.2
Speak only English -1,134 -0.0 50,819 2.0 51,953 2.1
Speak language other than English 41,261 14.8 80,288 28.8 39,027 12.2
Speak English "very well" 37,192 19.6 89,569 47.2 52,377 23.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,069 4.6 -9,281 -10.4 -13,350 -14.3
Foreign Born 89,334 32.3 198,343 71.8 109,009 29.8
Speak only English 9,172 9.9 17,095 18.5 7,923 7.8
Speak language other than English 80,162 43.6 181,248 98.6 101,086 38.3
Speak English "very well" 31,905 35.3 75,436 83.5 43,531 35.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 48,257 51.6 105,812 113.2 57,555 40.6
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey (ACS); 2000 Decennial Census; Steven Ruggles, Matthew Sobek, Trent Alexander, et al., Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 3.0 [IPUMS 1990 5%] (Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Population Center, 2011).
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 2. Change in the Educational Attainment of the Foreign Born, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of Connecticut, Age 25 and Older 2,190,259 100.0 2,294,687 100.0 2,444,403 100.0
Less than high school diploma 455,249 20.8 366,038 16.0 266,694 10.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 596,055 27.2 716,373 31.2 884,059 36.2
Native Born 1,952,838 100.0 1,993,190 100.0 2,037,076 100.0
Less than high school diploma 365,547 18.7 277,802 13.9 178,200 8.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 546,286 28.0 632,878 31.8 749,703 36.8
Foreign Born 237,421 100.0 301,497 100.0 407,327 100.0
Less than high school diploma 89,702 37.8 88,236 29.3 88,494 21.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 49,769 21.0 83,495 27.7 134,356 33.0

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Connecticut, Age 25 and Older 104,428 4.8 254,144 11.6 149,716 6.5
Less than high school diploma -89,211 -19.6 -188,555 -41.4 -99,344 -27.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 120,318 20.2 288,004 48.3 167,686 23.4
Native Born 40,352 2.1 84,238 4.3 43,886 2.2
Less than high school diploma -87,745 -24.0 -187,347 -51.3 -99,602 -35.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 86,592 15.9 203,417 37.2 116,825 18.5
Foreign Born 64,076 27.0 169,906 71.6 105,830 35.1
Less than high school diploma -1,466 -1.6 -1,208 -1.3 258 0.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 33,726 67.8 84,587 170.0 50,861 60.9
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey (ACS); Steven Ruggles, Matthew Sobek, Trent Alexander, et al., Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 3.0 [IPUMS 1990 and 2000 5%] (Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Population Center, 2011).
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 3. Limited English Proficient Populations by Citizenship Status, 2011
Total Household Population of Connecticut, Age 5 and Older 3,384,503
Speak only English 78.6
Speak language other than English 21.4
Speak English "very well" 13.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8.2
Native Born 2,909,960
Speak only English 87.7
Speak language other than English 12.3
Speak English "very well" 9.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2.7
Foreign Born 474,543
Speak only English 23.1
Speak language other than English 76.9
Speak English "very well" 34.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 42.0
Noncitizen1 238,755
Speak only English 17.3
Speak language other than English 82.7
Speak English "very well" 30.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 52.5
Naturalized Citizen1 235,788
Speak only English 28.8
Speak language other than English 71.2
Speak English "very well" 39.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 31.4
Notes:
1. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (different years, see Note 1 above).
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 4. Educational Attainment by Citizenship Status
Total Household Population of Connecticut, Age 25 and Older 2,444,403
Less than high school diploma 10.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 36.2
Native Born 2,037,076
Less than high school diploma 8.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 36.8
Foreign Born 407,327
Less than high school diploma 21.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 33.0
Noncitizen1 191,904
Less than high school diploma 26.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 30.6
Naturalized Citizen1 215,423
Less than high school diploma 17.2
Bachelor's degree or higher 35.0
Notes:
1. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (different years, see Note 1 above). (ACS).
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 5. Language and Educational Characteristics of the Household Population in Connecticut, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 2,444,403 100.0
Speak only English 1,917,942 100.0
Less than high school diploma 135,681 7.1
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 535,542 27.9
Some college or associate's degree 509,318 26.6
Bachelor's degree 737,401 38.4
Speak Spanish 249,704 100.0
Less than high school diploma 82,166 32.9
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 75,026 30.0
Some college or associate's degree 56,235 22.5
Bachelor's degree 36,277 14.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 201,937 100.0
Less than high school diploma 37,868 18.8
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 54,001 26.7
Some college or associate's degree 40,971 20.3
Bachelor's degree 69,097 34.2
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 55,652 100.0
Less than high school diploma 8,957 16.1
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 7,754 13.9
Some college or associate's degree 7,512 13.5
Bachelor's degree 31,429 56.5
Speak Other Languages 19,168 100.0
Less than high school diploma 2,022 10.5
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 4,190 21.9
Some college or associate's degree 3,101 16.2
Bachelor's degree 9,855 51.4
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 3,384,503 100.0
Native Born 2,909,960 100.0
Speak only English 2,551,052 87.7
Speak language other than English 358,908 12.3
Speak Spanish 243,053 100.0
Speak English "very well" 175,638 72.3
Speak English "well" 34,844 14.3
Speak English "not well" 23,752 9.8
Speak English "not at all" 8,819 3.6
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 91,372 100.0
Speak English "very well" 81,759 89.5
Speak English "well" 6,062 6.6
Speak English "not well" 3,400 3.7
Speak English "not at all" 151 0.2
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 15,042 100.0
Speak English "very well" 12,839 85.4
Speak English "well" 1,632 10.8
Speak English "not well" 571 3.8
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 9,441 100.0
Speak English "very well" 8,980 95.1
Speak English "well" 251 2.7
Speak English "not well" 210 2.2
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Foreign Born 474,543 100.0
Speak only English 109,425 23.1
Speak language other than English 365,118 76.9
Speak Spanish 124,763 100.0
Speak English "very well" 35,139 28.2
Speak English "well" 31,085 24.9
Speak English "not well" 40,391 32.4
Speak English "not at all" 18,148 14.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 161,304 100.0
Speak English "very well" 88,226 54.7
Speak English "well" 42,832 26.6
Speak English "not well" 24,682 15.3
Speak English "not at all" 5,564 3.4
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 60,990 100.0
Speak English "very well" 31,940 52.4
Speak English "well" 16,109 26.4
Speak English "not well" 9,783 16.0
Speak English "not at all" 3,158 5.2
Speak Other Languages 18,061 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,501 58.1
Speak English "well" 5,887 32.6
Speak English "not well" 1,120 6.2
Speak English "not at all" 553 3.1
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 3,384,503 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 607,414 100.0
Speak only English 488,411 80.4
Speak language other than English 119,003 19.6
Speak English “very well” 98,700 16.2
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 20,303 3.3
Speak Spanish 71,753 11.8
Speak English "very well" 58,517 9.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13,236 2.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 29,468 4.9
Speak English "very well" 25,710 4.2
Speak English less than "very well" 3,758 0.6
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 11,507 1.9
Speak English "very well" 9,048 1.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,459 0.4
Speak Other Languages 6,275 1.0
Speak English "very well" 5,425 0.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 850 0.1
Ages 18 to 64 2,261,775 100.0
Speak only English 1,740,431 76.9
Speak language other than English 521,344 23.1
Speak English "very well" 307,925 13.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 213,419 9.4
Speak Spanish 273,510 12.1
Speak English "very well" 146,014 6.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 127,496 5.6
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 170,618 7.5
Speak English "very well" 115,588 5.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 55,030 2.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 58,974 2.6
Speak English "very well" 33,996 1.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 24,978 1.1
Speak Other Languages 18,242 0.8
Speak English "very well" 12,327 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,915 0.3
Age 65 and Older 515,314 100.0
Speak only English 431,635 83.8
Speak language other than English 83,679 16.2
Speak English "very well" 38,397 7.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 45,282 8.8
Speak Spanish 22,553 4.4
Speak English "very well" 6,246 1.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 16,307 3.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 52,590 10.2
Speak English "very well" 28,687 5.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 23,903 4.6
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 5,551 1.1
Speak English "very well" 1,735 0.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,816 0.7
Speak Other Languages 2,985 0.6
Speak English "very well" 1,729 0.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,256 0.2
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 1,351,643 100.0
Linguistically isolated 69,321 5.1
Not linguistically isolated 1,282,322 94.9
Speak only English 1,030,985 100.0
Speak Spanish 151,410 100.0
Linguistically isolated 37,623 24.8
Not linguistically isolated 113,787 75.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 128,122 100.0
Linguistically isolated 23,709 18.5
Not linguistically isolated 104,413 81.5
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 29,291 100.0
Linguistically isolated 6,336 21.6
Not linguistically isolated 22,955 78.4
Speak Other Languages 11,835 100.0
Linguistically isolated 1,653 14.0
Not linguistically isolated 10,182 86.0
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 3,384,503 100.0
Speak language other than English 724,026 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 367,816 50.8
French (including Patois and Cajun) 35,359 4.9
French Creole 13,122 1.8
Italian 35,786 4.9
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 35,245 4.9
German 11,583 1.6
Yiddish 176 0.0
Other West Germanic languages 1,780 0.2
Scandinavian languages 2,281 0.3
Greek 9,856 1.4
Russian 10,490 1.4
Polish 39,957 5.5
Serbo-Croatian 2,813 0.4
Other Slavic languages 3,871 0.5
Armenian 477 0.1
Persian 1,699 0.2
Gujarathi 4,233 0.6
Hindi 11,125 1.5
Urdu 4,569 0.6
Other Indic languages 13,900 1.9
Other Indo-European languages 14,354 2.0
Chinese 26,080 3.6
Japanese 3,164 0.4
Korean 5,407 0.7
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 3,240 0.4
Hmong 0 0.0
Thai 1,097 0.2
Laotian 2,503 0.3
Vietnamese 6,854 0.9
Other Asian languages 16,752 2.3
Tagalog 10,061 1.4
Other Pacific Island languages 874 0.1
Navajo 0 0.0
Other Native North American languages 162 0.0
Hungarian 3,465 0.5
Arabic 10,317 1.4
Hebrew 3,330 0.5
African languages 9,630 1.3
Other and unspecified languages 598 0.1
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 3,384,503 100.0
Speak only English 2,660,477 78.6
Speak language other than English 724,026 21.4
Spanish or Spanish Creole 367,816 100.00
Speak English "very well" 210,777 57.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 157,039 42.7
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 35,359 100.0
Speak English "very well" 27,017 76.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,342 23.6
French Creole 13,122 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,091 54.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 6,031 46.0
Italian 35,786 100.0
Speak English "very well" 25,767 72.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 10,019 28.0
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 35,245 100.0
Speak English "very well" 20,922 59.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 14,323 40.6
German 11,583 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,594 91.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 989 8.5
Yiddish 176 100.0
Speak English "very well" 176 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Other West Germanic Languages 1,780 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,647 92.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 133 7.5
Scandinavian Languages 2,281 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,140 93.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 141 6.2
Greek 9,856 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,610 77.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,246 22.8
Russian 10,490 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,977 57.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,513 43.0
Polish 39,957 100.0
Speak English "very well" 24,794 62.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15,163 37.9
Serbo-Croatian 2,813 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,402 49.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,411 50.2
Other Slavic Languages 3,871 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,825 73.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,046 27.0
Armenian 477 100.0
Speak English "very well" 388 81.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 89 18.7
Persian 1,699 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,264 74.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 435 25.6
Gujarathi 4,233 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,647 62.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,586 37.5
Hindi 11,125 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,648 68.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,477 31.3
Urdu 4,569 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,693 80.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 876 19.2
Other Indic Languages 13,900 100.0
Speak English "very well" 8,944 64.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,956 35.7
Other Indo-European Languages 14,354 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,439 51.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 6,915 48.2
Chinese 26,080 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14,370 55.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 11,710 44.9
Japanese 3,164 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,541 48.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,623 51.3
Korean 5,407 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,102 57.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,305 42.6
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 3,240 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,635 50.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,605 49.5
Hmong 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Thai 1,097 100.0
Speak English "very well" 567 51.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 530 48.3
Laotian 2,503 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,193 47.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,310 52.3
Vietnamese 6,854 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,269 33.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,585 66.9
Other Asian Languages 16,752 100.0
Speak English "very well" 12,583 75.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,169 24.9
Tagalog 10,061 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,976 69.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,085 30.7
Other Pacific Island Languages 874 100.0
Speak English "very well" 543 62.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 331 37.9
Navajo 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other Native North American Languages 162 100.0
Speak English "very well" 63 38.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 99 61.1
Hungarian 3,465 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,204 63.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,261 36.4
Arabic 10,317 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,148 69.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,169 30.7
Hebrew 3,330 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,108 93.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 222 6.7
African Languages 9,630 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,524 67.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,106 32.3
Other and unspecified Languages 598 100.0
Speak English "very well" 434 72.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 164 27.4
Notes:
A household is “linguistically isolated” if all adults (14 and older) speak a language other than English and none speaks English “very well.”

1. Data for Alaska, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau’s pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), different years (see Note 1 above).
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

For data on these topics, click on the link: