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NEW YORK
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for New York:

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

Rankings
The following shows New York'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: 3 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 28 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 25 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 29 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 New York increased by 15.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in New York who were LEP increased from 1,740,663 to 2,009,666, representing a change of 15.5 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 1,170,811 to 1,740,663 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 48.7 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, 46.8 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in New York were LEP.
In 2011, 46.8 percent of New York's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 45.4 percent in 2000 and 41.8 percent in 1990. Only 3.2 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in New York 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 New York, 76.3 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 901,297 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 76.3 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 New York were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in New York in 2011, 37.6 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 56.7 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 New York in 2011, 71.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 49.9 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 65.9 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 43.0 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 New York in 2011, 8.1 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In New York, 8.1 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 27.9 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 22.0 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 36.5 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 18.6 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 New York with a college degree increased by 41.9 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in New York older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 769,156 to 1,091,079, representing a difference of 41.9 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 456,275 to 769,156 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 68.6 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 New York with less than a high school diploma decreased by -5.4 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in New York who had not completed high school decreased from 1,062,182 to 1,004,916, or -5.4 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 897,591 to 1,062,182 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 18.3 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, 28.9 percent of immigrants in New York had a college degree, while 26.6 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 28.9 percent of New York's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 26.6 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 34.5 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 10.3 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 24.4 percent of the foreign born in New York had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33.7 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 19.7 percent had a college degree, and 38.8 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, 32.7 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 24.4 percent of noncitizens.
In New York, 32.7 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 24.4 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 21.0 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 33.7 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 New York in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in New York, 34.8 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 15.5 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 39.4 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 42.7 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 36.3 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 9.7 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 35.7 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 16.7 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 25.9 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 17.3 percent who spoke other languages.

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

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of New York, Age 5 and Older 16,676,419 100.0 17,749,110 100.0 18,307,740 100.0
Speak only English 12,786,584 76.7 12,786,189 72.0 12,800,748 69.9
Speak language other than English 3,889,835 23.3 4,962,921 28.0 5,506,992 30.1
Speak English "very well" 2,137,230 12.8 2,652,665 14.9 3,043,538 16.6
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 1,752,605 10.5 2,310,256 13.0 2,463,454 13.5
Native Born 13,873,544 100.0 13,914,631 100.0 14,010,372 100.0
Speak only English 11,993,840 86.5 11,824,617 85.0 11,768,662 84.0
Speak language other than English 1,879,704 13.5 2,090,014 15.0 2,241,710 16.0
Speak English "very well" 1,297,910 9.4 1,520,421 10.9 1,787,922 12.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 581,794 4.2 569,593 4.1 453,788 3.2
Foreign Born 2,802,875 100.0 3,834,479 100.0 4,297,368 100.0
Speak only English 792,744 28.3 961,572 25.1 1,032,086 24.0
Speak language other than English 2,010,131 71.7 2,872,907 74.9 3,265,282 76.0
Speak English "very well" 839,320 29.9 1,132,244 29.5 1,255,616 29.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,170,811 41.8 1,740,663 45.4 2,009,666 46.8
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of New York, Age 5 and Older 1,072,691 6.4 1,631,321 9.8 558,630 3.1
Speak only English -395 -0.0 14,164 0.1 14,559 0.1
Speak language other than English 1,073,086 27.6 1,617,157 41.6 544,071 11.0
Speak English "very well" 515,435 24.1 906,308 42.4 390,873 14.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 557,651 31.8 710,849 40.6 153,198 6.6
Native Born 41,087 0.3 136,828 1.0 95,741 0.7
Speak only English -169,223 -1.4 -225,178 -1.9 -55,955 -0.5
Speak language other than English 210,310 11.2 362,006 19.3 151,696 7.3
Speak English "very well" 222,511 17.1 490,012 37.8 267,501 17.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) -12,201 -2.1 -128,006 -22.0 -115,805 -20.3
Foreign Born 1,031,604 36.8 1,494,493 53.3 462,889 12.1
Speak only English 168,828 21.3 239,342 30.2 70,514 7.3
Speak language other than English 862,776 42.9 1,255,151 62.4 392,375 13.7
Speak English "very well" 292,924 34.9 416,296 49.6 123,372 10.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 569,852 48.7 838,855 71.6 269,003 15.5
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 New York, Age 25 and Older 11,783,253 100.0 12,555,518 100.0 13,197,704 100.0
Less than high school diploma 2,953,057 25.1 2,623,123 20.9 1,974,266 15.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 2,734,656 23.2 3,436,549 27.4 4,345,667 32.9
Native Born 9,471,191 100.0 9,404,196 100.0 9,425,596 100.0
Less than high school diploma 2,055,466 21.7 1,560,941 16.6 969,350 10.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 2,278,381 24.1 2,667,393 28.4 3,254,588 34.5
Foreign Born 2,312,062 100.0 3,151,322 100.0 3,772,108 100.0
Less than high school diploma 897,591 38.8 1,062,182 33.7 1,004,916 26.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 456,275 19.7 769,156 24.4 1,091,079 28.9

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of New York, Age 25 and Older 772,265 6.6 1,414,451 12.0 642,186 5.1
Less than high school diploma -329,934 -11.2 -978,791 -33.1 -648,857 -24.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 701,893 25.7 1,611,011 58.9 909,118 26.5
Native Born -66,995 -0.7 -45,595 -0.5 21,400 0.2
Less than high school diploma -494,525 -24.1 -1,086,116 -52.8 -591,591 -37.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 389,012 17.1 976,207 42.8 587,195 22.0
Foreign Born 839,260 36.3 1,460,046 63.1 620,786 19.7
Less than high school diploma 164,591 18.3 107,325 12.0 -57,266 -5.4
Bachelor's degree or higher 312,881 68.6 634,804 139.1 321,923 41.9
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 New York, Age 5 and Older 18,307,740
Speak only English 69.9
Speak language other than English 30.1
Speak English "very well" 16.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13.5
Native Born 14,010,372
Speak only English 84.0
Speak language other than English 16.0
Speak English "very well" 12.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3.2
Foreign Born 4,297,368
Speak only English 24.0
Speak language other than English 76.0
Speak English "very well" 29.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 46.8
Noncitizen1 2,064,821
Speak only English 18.4
Speak language other than English 81.6
Speak English "very well" 24.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 56.7
Naturalized Citizen1 2,232,547
Speak only English 29.2
Speak language other than English 70.8
Speak English "very well" 33.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 37.6
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 New York, Age 25 and Older 13,197,704
Less than high school diploma 15.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 32.9
Native Born 9,425,596
Less than high school diploma 10.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 34.5
Foreign Born 3,772,108
Less than high school diploma 26.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 28.9
Noncitizen1 1,682,730
Less than high school diploma 33.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 24.4
Naturalized Citizen1 2,089,378
Less than high school diploma 21.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 32.7
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 New York, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 13,197,704 100.0
Speak only English 9,216,194 100.0
Less than high school diploma 890,928 9.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 2,646,260 28.7
Some college or associate's degree 2,469,207 26.8
Bachelor's degree 3,209,799 34.8
Speak Spanish 1,871,351 100.0
Less than high school diploma 668,898 35.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 521,274 27.9
Some college or associate's degree 391,882 20.9
Bachelor's degree 289,297 15.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 1,255,528 100.0
Less than high school diploma 210,112 16.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 306,715 24.4
Some college or associate's degree 244,177 19.4
Bachelor's degree 494,524 39.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 657,164 100.0
Less than high school diploma 170,071 25.9
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 115,475 17.6
Some college or associate's degree 91,269 13.9
Bachelor's degree 280,349 42.7
Speak Other Languages 197,467 100.0
Less than high school diploma 34,257 17.3
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 45,825 23.2
Some college or associate's degree 45,687 23.1
Bachelor's degree 71,698 36.3
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 18,307,740 100.0
Native Born 14,010,372 100.0
Speak only English 11,768,662 84.0
Speak language other than English 2,241,710 16.0
Speak Spanish 1,384,668 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,078,204 77.9
Speak English "well" 186,224 13.4
Speak English "not well" 95,055 6.9
Speak English "not at all" 25,185 1.8
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 587,242 100.0
Speak English "very well" 489,701 83.4
Speak English "well" 60,965 10.4
Speak English "not well" 29,661 5.1
Speak English "not at all" 6,915 1.2
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 167,262 100.0
Speak English "very well" 133,609 79.9
Speak English "well" 24,160 14.4
Speak English "not well" 8,748 5.2
Speak English "not at all" 745 0.4
Speak Other Languages 102,538 100.0
Speak English "very well" 86,408 84.3
Speak English "well" 11,188 10.9
Speak English "not well" 4,227 4.1
Speak English "not at all" 715 0.7
Foreign Born 4,297,368 100.0
Speak only English 1,032,086 24.0
Speak language other than English 3,265,282 76.0
Speak Spanish 1,314,071 100.0
Speak English "very well" 376,106 28.6
Speak English "well" 323,679 24.6
Speak English "not well" 409,161 31.1
Speak English "not at all" 205,125 15.6
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 1,075,222 100.0
Speak English "very well" 539,156 50.1
Speak English "well" 314,404 29.2
Speak English "not well" 176,389 16.4
Speak English "not at all" 45,273 4.2
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 693,024 100.0
Speak English "very well" 235,984 34.1
Speak English "well" 182,613 26.4
Speak English "not well" 180,046 26.0
Speak English "not at all" 94,381 13.6
Speak Other Languages 182,965 100.0
Speak English "very well" 104,370 57.0
Speak English "well" 49,031 26.8
Speak English "not well" 25,445 13.9
Speak English "not at all" 4,119 2.3
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 18,307,740 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 3,122,165 100.0
Speak only English 2,220,868 71.1
Speak language other than English 901,297 28.9
Speak English “very well” 687,677 22.0
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 213,620 6.8
Speak Spanish 483,060 15.5
Speak English "very well" 378,300 12.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 104,760 3.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 254,651 8.2
Speak English "very well" 194,585 6.2
Speak English less than "very well" 60,066 1.9
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 106,120 3.4
Speak English "very well" 70,091 2.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 36,029 1.2
Speak Other Languages 57,466 1.8
Speak English "very well" 44,701 1.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 12,765 0.4
Ages 18 to 64 12,520,655 100.0
Speak only English 8,584,372 68.6
Speak language other than English 3,936,283 31.4
Speak English "very well" 2,132,148 17.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,804,135 14.4
Speak Spanish 1,966,556 15.7
Speak English "very well" 1,006,687 8.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 959,869 7.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 1,115,830 8.9
Speak English "very well" 712,019 5.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 403,811 3.2
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 651,028 5.2
Speak English "very well" 279,780 2.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 371,248 3.0
Speak Other Languages 202,869 1.6
Speak English "very well" 133,662 1.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 69,207 0.6
Age 65 and Older 2,664,920 100.0
Speak only English 1,995,508 74.9
Speak language other than English 669,412 25.1
Speak English "very well" 223,713 8.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 445,699 16.7
Speak Spanish 249,123 9.3
Speak English "very well" 69,323 2.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 179,800 6.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 291,983 11.0
Speak English "very well" 122,253 4.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 169,730 6.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 103,138 3.9
Speak English "very well" 19,722 0.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 83,416 3.1
Speak Other Languages 25,168 0.9
Speak English "very well" 12,415 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 12,753 0.5
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 7,187,938 100.0
Linguistically isolated 585,422 8.1
Not linguistically isolated 6,602,516 91.9
Speak only English 4,993,522 100.0
Speak Spanish 1,023,340 100.0
Linguistically isolated 285,334 27.9
Not linguistically isolated 738,006 72.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 739,100 100.0
Linguistically isolated 162,445 22.0
Not linguistically isolated 576,655 78.0
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 319,885 100.0
Linguistically isolated 116,756 36.5
Not linguistically isolated 203,129 63.5
Speak Other Languages 112,091 100.0
Linguistically isolated 20,887 18.6
Not linguistically isolated 91,204 81.4
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 18,307,740 100.0
Speak language other than English 5,506,992 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 2,675,028 48.6
French (including Patois and Cajun) 135,154 2.5
French Creole 153,465 2.8
Italian 198,116 3.6
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 45,197 0.8
German 67,226 1.2
Yiddish 126,338 2.3
Other West Germanic languages 15,945 0.3
Scandinavian languages 9,855 0.2
Greek 74,581 1.4
Russian 225,692 4.1
Polish 99,372 1.8
Serbo-Croatian 36,298 0.7
Other Slavic languages 34,061 0.6
Armenian 5,963 0.1
Persian 27,110 0.5
Gujarathi 19,898 0.4
Hindi 60,147 1.1
Urdu 70,273 1.3
Other Indic languages 144,746 2.6
Other Indo-European languages 72,261 1.3
Chinese 509,606 9.3
Japanese 33,471 0.6
Korean 115,594 2.1
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 4,864 0.1
Hmong 178 0.0
Thai 8,838 0.2
Laotian 3,404 0.1
Vietnamese 22,483 0.4
Other Asian languages 82,087 1.5
Tagalog 79,577 1.4
Other Pacific Island languages 11,387 0.2
Navajo 103 0.0
Other Native North American languages 4,024 0.1
Hungarian 12,569 0.2
Arabic 87,347 1.6
Hebrew 68,428 1.2
African languages 90,630 1.6
Other and unspecified languages 8,756 0.2
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 18,307,740 100.0
Speak only English 12,800,748 69.9
Speak language other than English 5,506,992 30.1
Spanish or Spanish Creole 2,675,028 100.00
Speak English "very well" 1,435,826 53.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,239,202 46.3
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 135,154 100.0
Speak English "very well" 103,673 76.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 31,481 23.3
French Creole 153,465 100.0
Speak English "very well" 88,607 57.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 64,858 42.3
Italian 198,116 100.0
Speak English "very well" 133,379 67.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 64,737 32.7
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 45,197 100.0
Speak English "very well" 27,713 61.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 17,484 38.7
German 67,226 100.0
Speak English "very well" 56,597 84.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 10,629 15.8
Yiddish 126,338 100.0
Speak English "very well" 78,553 62.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 47,785 37.8
Other West Germanic Languages 15,945 100.0
Speak English "very well" 11,987 75.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,958 24.8
Scandinavian Languages 9,855 100.0
Speak English "very well" 8,536 86.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,319 13.4
Greek 74,581 100.0
Speak English "very well" 52,962 71.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 21,619 29.0
Russian 225,692 100.0
Speak English "very well" 91,797 40.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 133,895 59.3
Polish 99,372 100.0
Speak English "very well" 54,550 54.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 44,822 45.1
Serbo-Croatian 36,298 100.0
Speak English "very well" 22,529 62.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13,769 37.9
Other Slavic Languages 34,061 100.0
Speak English "very well" 19,339 56.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 14,722 43.2
Armenian 5,963 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,950 66.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,013 33.8
Persian 27,110 100.0
Speak English "very well" 15,388 56.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 11,722 43.2
Gujarathi 19,898 100.0
Speak English "very well" 13,535 68.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 6,363 32.0
Hindi 60,147 100.0
Speak English "very well" 44,254 73.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15,893 26.4
Urdu 70,273 100.0
Speak English "very well" 44,174 62.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 26,099 37.1
Other Indic Languages 144,746 100.0
Speak English "very well" 73,953 51.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 70,793 48.9
Other Indo-European Languages 72,261 100.0
Speak English "very well" 44,088 61.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 28,173 39.0
Chinese 509,606 100.0
Speak English "very well" 180,859 35.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 328,747 64.5
Japanese 33,471 100.0
Speak English "very well" 17,555 52.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15,916 47.6
Korean 115,594 100.0
Speak English "very well" 50,812 44.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 64,782 56.0
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 4,864 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,937 60.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,927 39.6
Hmong 178 100.0
Speak English "very well" 137 77.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 41 23.0
Thai 8,838 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,818 43.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,020 56.8
Laotian 3,404 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,671 49.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,733 50.9
Vietnamese 22,483 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,291 45.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 12,192 54.2
Other Asian Languages 82,087 100.0
Speak English "very well" 45,949 56.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 36,138 44.0
Tagalog 79,577 100.0
Speak English "very well" 58,158 73.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 21,419 26.9
Other Pacific Island Languages 11,387 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,520 57.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,867 42.7
Navajo 103 100.0
Speak English "very well" 103 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Other Native North American Languages 4,024 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,259 81.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 765 19.0
Hungarian 12,569 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,665 61.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,904 39.0
Arabic 87,347 100.0
Speak English "very well" 50,096 57.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 37,251 42.6
Hebrew 68,428 100.0
Speak English "very well" 53,329 77.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15,099 22.1
African Languages 90,630 100.0
Speak English "very well" 61,256 67.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 29,374 32.4
Other and unspecified Languages 8,756 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,613 64.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,143 35.9
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: