For data on these topics, click on the link:

Return to the US map
Print Page Print | Email Page Email | Bookmark page Bookmark

SOUTH CAROLINA
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for South Carolina:

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

Rankings
The following shows South Carolina'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: 31 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 32 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 31 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 26 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 South Carolina increased by 103.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in South Carolina who were LEP increased from 48,631 to 98,967, representing a change of 103.5 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 11,877 to 48,631 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 309.5 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, 44.8 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in South Carolina were LEP.
In 2011, 44.8 percent of South Carolina's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 42.7 percent in 2000 and 24.8 percent in 1990. Only 0.5 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in South Carolina 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 South Carolina, 84.3 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 55,358 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 84.3 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 South Carolina were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in South Carolina in 2011, 23.2 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 55.8 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 South Carolina in 2011, 70.7 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 28.0 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 52.6 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 34.8 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 South Carolina in 2011, 1.6 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In South Carolina, 1.6 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 28.8 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 5.0 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 23.5 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 8.4 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 South Carolina with a college degree increased by 87.8 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in South Carolina older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 25,057 to 47,045, representing a difference of 87.8 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 10,644 to 25,057 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 135.4 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 South Carolina with less than a high school diploma increased by 92.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in South Carolina who had not completed high school increased from 25,856 to 49,815, or 92.7 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 8,055 to 25,856 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 221.0 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, 26.1 percent of immigrants in South Carolina had a college degree, while 27.7 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 26.1 percent of South Carolina's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 27.7 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 23.9 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 15.1 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 28.8 percent of the foreign born in South Carolina had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 29.7 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 27.4 percent had a college degree, and 20.7 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, 35.1 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 20.7 percent of noncitizens.
In South Carolina, 35.1 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 20.7 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 14.6 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 35.7 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 South Carolina in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in South Carolina, 23.9 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 15.7 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 44.9 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 37.7 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 27.5 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 15.0 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 38.6 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 10.3 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 21.7 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 5.7 percent who spoke other languages.

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

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of South Carolina, Age 5 and Older 3,226,092 100.0 3,748,669 100.0 4,376,509 100.0
Speak only English 3,114,168 96.5 3,552,240 94.8 4,087,505 93.4
Speak language other than English 111,924 3.5 196,429 5.2 289,004 6.6
Speak English "very well" 74,571 2.3 114,150 3.0 169,389 3.9
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 37,353 1.2 82,279 2.2 119,615 2.7
Native Born 3,178,182 100.0 3,634,840 100.0 4,155,500 100.0
Speak only English 3,095,484 97.4 3,523,500 96.9 4,036,180 97.1
Speak language other than English 82,698 2.6 111,340 3.1 119,320 2.9
Speak English "very well" 57,222 1.8 77,692 2.1 98,672 2.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 25,476 0.8 33,648 0.9 20,648 0.5
Foreign Born 47,910 100.0 113,829 100.0 221,009 100.0
Speak only English 18,684 39.0 28,740 25.2 51,325 23.2
Speak language other than English 29,226 61.0 85,089 74.8 169,684 76.8
Speak English "very well" 17,349 36.2 36,458 32.0 70,717 32.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 11,877 24.8 48,631 42.7 98,967 44.8
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of South Carolina, Age 5 and Older 522,577 16.2 1,150,417 35.7 627,840 16.7
Speak only English 438,072 14.1 973,337 31.3 535,265 15.1
Speak language other than English 84,505 75.5 177,080 158.2 92,575 47.1
Speak English "very well" 39,579 53.1 94,818 127.2 55,239 48.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 44,926 120.3 82,262 220.2 37,336 45.4
Native Born 456,658 14.4 977,318 30.8 520,660 14.3
Speak only English 428,016 13.8 940,696 30.4 512,680 14.6
Speak language other than English 28,642 34.6 36,622 44.3 7,980 7.2
Speak English "very well" 20,470 35.8 41,450 72.4 20,980 27.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,172 32.1 -4,828 -19.0 -13,000 -38.6
Foreign Born 65,919 137.6 173,099 361.3 107,180 94.2
Speak only English 10,056 53.8 32,641 174.7 22,585 78.6
Speak language other than English 55,863 191.1 140,458 480.6 84,595 99.4
Speak English "very well" 19,109 110.1 53,368 307.6 34,259 94.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 36,754 309.5 87,090 733.3 50,336 103.5
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 South Carolina, Age 25 and Older 2,161,674 100.0 2,601,858 100.0 3,110,532 100.0
Less than high school diploma 690,504 31.9 619,812 23.8 493,003 15.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 357,741 16.5 529,586 20.4 748,675 24.1
Native Born 2,122,839 100.0 2,514,780 100.0 2,930,510 100.0
Less than high school diploma 682,449 32.1 593,956 23.6 443,188 15.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 347,097 16.4 504,529 20.1 701,630 23.9
Foreign Born 38,835 100.0 87,078 100.0 180,022 100.0
Less than high school diploma 8,055 20.7 25,856 29.7 49,815 27.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 10,644 27.4 25,057 28.8 47,045 26.1

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of South Carolina, Age 25 and Older 440,184 20.4 948,858 43.9 508,674 19.6
Less than high school diploma -70,692 -10.2 -197,501 -28.6 -126,809 -20.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 171,845 48.0 390,934 109.3 219,089 41.4
Native Born 391,941 18.5 807,671 38.0 415,730 16.5
Less than high school diploma -88,493 -13.0 -239,261 -35.1 -150,768 -25.4
Bachelor's degree or higher 157,432 45.4 354,533 102.1 197,101 39.1
Foreign Born 48,243 124.2 141,187 363.6 92,944 106.7
Less than high school diploma 17,801 221.0 41,760 518.4 23,959 92.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 14,413 135.4 36,401 342.0 21,988 87.8
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 South Carolina, Age 5 and Older 4,376,509
Speak only English 93.4
Speak language other than English 6.6
Speak English "very well" 3.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2.7
Native Born 4,155,500
Speak only English 97.1
Speak language other than English 2.9
Speak English "very well" 2.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0.5
Foreign Born 221,009
Speak only English 23.2
Speak language other than English 76.8
Speak English "very well" 32.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 44.8
Noncitizen1 146,295
Speak only English 14.1
Speak language other than English 85.9
Speak English "very well" 30.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 55.8
Naturalized Citizen1 74,714
Speak only English 41.1
Speak language other than English 58.9
Speak English "very well" 35.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 23.2
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 South Carolina, Age 25 and Older 3,110,532
Less than high school diploma 15.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 24.1
Native Born 2,930,510
Less than high school diploma 15.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 23.9
Foreign Born 180,022
Less than high school diploma 27.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 26.1
Noncitizen1 111,704
Less than high school diploma 35.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 20.7
Naturalized Citizen1 68,318
Less than high school diploma 14.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 35.1
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 South Carolina, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 3,110,532 100.0
Speak only English 2,917,220 100.0
Less than high school diploma 437,374 15.0
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 912,145 31.3
Some college or associate's degree 869,097 29.8
Bachelor's degree 698,604 23.9
Speak Spanish 115,372 100.0
Less than high school diploma 44,504 38.6
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 29,352 25.4
Some college or associate's degree 23,347 20.2
Bachelor's degree 18,169 15.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 43,073 100.0
Less than high school diploma 4,444 10.3
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 8,363 19.4
Some college or associate's degree 10,947 25.4
Bachelor's degree 19,319 44.9
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 29,316 100.0
Less than high school diploma 6,365 21.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 3,878 13.2
Some college or associate's degree 8,014 27.3
Bachelor's degree 11,059 37.7
Speak Other Languages 5,551 100.0
Less than high school diploma 316 5.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 1,771 31.9
Some college or associate's degree 1,940 34.9
Bachelor's degree 1,524 27.5
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 4,376,509 100.0
Native Born 4,155,500 100.0
Speak only English 4,036,180 97.1
Speak language other than English 119,320 2.9
Speak Spanish 85,235 100.0
Speak English "very well" 69,243 81.2
Speak English "well" 9,624 11.3
Speak English "not well" 4,984 5.8
Speak English "not at all" 1,384 1.6
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 23,921 100.0
Speak English "very well" 21,013 87.8
Speak English "well" 2,332 9.7
Speak English "not well" 462 1.9
Speak English "not at all" 114 0.5
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 7,996 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,510 81.4
Speak English "well" 1,177 14.7
Speak English "not well" 309 3.9
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 2,168 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,906 87.9
Speak English "well" 166 7.7
Speak English "not well" 96 4.4
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Foreign Born 221,009 100.0
Speak only English 51,325 23.2
Speak language other than English 169,684 76.8
Speak Spanish 102,159 100.0
Speak English "very well" 29,934 29.3
Speak English "well" 27,841 27.3
Speak English "not well" 30,895 30.2
Speak English "not at all" 13,489 13.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 32,385 100.0
Speak English "very well" 23,323 72.0
Speak English "well" 6,024 18.6
Speak English "not well" 2,391 7.4
Speak English "not at all" 647 2.0
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 30,686 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14,554 47.4
Speak English "well" 10,207 33.3
Speak English "not well" 4,472 14.6
Speak English "not at all" 1,453 4.7
Speak Other Languages 4,454 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,906 65.2
Speak English "well" 901 20.2
Speak English "not well" 415 9.3
Speak English "not at all" 232 5.2
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 4,376,509 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 779,292 100.0
Speak only English 723,934 92.9
Speak language other than English 55,358 7.1
Speak English “very well” 46,667 6.0
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 8,691 1.1
Speak Spanish 42,621 5.5
Speak English "very well" 36,406 4.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 6,215 0.8
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 7,334 0.9
Speak English "very well" 5,961 0.8
Speak English less than "very well" 1,373 0.2
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 4,909 0.6
Speak English "very well" 3,871 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,038 0.1
Speak Other Languages 494 0.1
Speak English "very well" 429 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 65 0.0
Ages 18 to 64 2,942,330 100.0
Speak only English 2,730,012 92.8
Speak language other than English 212,318 7.2
Speak English "very well" 108,621 3.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 103,697 3.5
Speak Spanish 137,865 4.7
Speak English "very well" 58,676 2.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 79,189 2.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 38,578 1.3
Speak English "very well" 30,538 1.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,040 0.3
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 30,253 1.0
Speak English "very well" 15,359 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 14,894 0.5
Speak Other Languages 5,622 0.2
Speak English "very well" 4,048 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,574 0.1
Age 65 and Older 654,887 100.0
Speak only English 633,559 96.7
Speak language other than English 21,328 3.3
Speak English "very well" 14,101 2.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,227 1.1
Speak Spanish 6,908 1.1
Speak English "very well" 4,095 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,813 0.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 10,394 1.6
Speak English "very well" 7,837 1.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,557 0.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 3,520 0.5
Speak English "very well" 1,834 0.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,686 0.3
Speak Other Languages 506 0.1
Speak English "very well" 335 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 171 0.0
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 1,768,834 100.0
Linguistically isolated 27,797 1.6
Not linguistically isolated 1,741,037 98.4
Speak only English 1,638,707 100.0
Speak Spanish 74,182 100.0
Linguistically isolated 21,339 28.8
Not linguistically isolated 52,843 71.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 33,458 100.0
Linguistically isolated 1,679 5.0
Not linguistically isolated 31,779 95.0
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 19,199 100.0
Linguistically isolated 4,504 23.5
Not linguistically isolated 14,695 76.5
Speak Other Languages 3,288 100.0
Linguistically isolated 275 8.4
Not linguistically isolated 3,013 91.6
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 4,376,509 100.0
Speak language other than English 289,004 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 193,373 66.9
French (including Patois and Cajun) 11,363 3.9
French Creole 307 0.1
Italian 2,484 0.9
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 2,402 0.8
German 12,828 4.4
Yiddish 136 0.0
Other West Germanic languages 1,404 0.5
Scandinavian languages 1,058 0.4
Greek 2,387 0.8
Russian 3,812 1.3
Polish 1,611 0.6
Serbo-Croatian 847 0.3
Other Slavic languages 1,896 0.7
Armenian 166 0.1
Persian 718 0.2
Gujarathi 3,069 1.1
Hindi 2,338 0.8
Urdu 819 0.3
Other Indic languages 2,751 1.0
Other Indo-European languages 2,732 0.9
Chinese 8,677 3.0
Japanese 3,004 1.0
Korean 4,321 1.5
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 1,181 0.4
Hmong 635 0.2
Thai 978 0.3
Laotian 513 0.2
Vietnamese 5,809 2.0
Other Asian languages 3,323 1.1
Tagalog 6,268 2.2
Other Pacific Island languages 1,137 0.4
Navajo 0 0.0
Other Native North American languages 108 0.0
Hungarian 692 0.2
Arabic 4,218 1.5
Hebrew 1,258 0.4
African languages 2,061 0.7
Other and unspecified languages 673 0.2
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 4,376,509 100.0
Speak only English 4,087,505 93.4
Speak language other than English 289,004 6.6
Spanish or Spanish Creole 193,373 100.00
Speak English "very well" 94,728 49.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 98,645 51.0
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 11,363 100.0
Speak English "very well" 9,538 83.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,825 16.1
French Creole 307 100.0
Speak English "very well" 208 67.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 99 32.2
Italian 2,484 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,897 76.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 587 23.6
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 2,402 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,516 63.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 886 36.9
German 12,828 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,961 85.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,867 14.6
Yiddish 136 100.0
Speak English "very well" 124 91.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 12 8.8
Other West Germanic Languages 1,404 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,318 93.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 86 6.1
Scandinavian Languages 1,058 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,003 94.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 55 5.2
Greek 2,387 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,776 74.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 611 25.6
Russian 3,812 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,511 65.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,301 34.1
Polish 1,611 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,159 71.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 452 28.1
Serbo-Croatian 847 100.0
Speak English "very well" 847 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Other Slavic Languages 1,896 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,119 59.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 777 41.0
Armenian 166 100.0
Speak English "very well" 124 74.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 42 25.3
Persian 718 100.0
Speak English "very well" 373 51.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 345 48.1
Gujarathi 3,069 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,080 67.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 989 32.2
Hindi 2,338 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,836 78.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 502 21.5
Urdu 819 100.0
Speak English "very well" 632 77.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 187 22.8
Other Indic Languages 2,751 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,780 64.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 971 35.3
Other Indo-European Languages 2,732 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,911 69.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 821 30.1
Chinese 8,677 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,364 50.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,313 49.7
Japanese 3,004 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,801 60.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,203 40.0
Korean 4,321 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,012 46.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,309 53.4
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 1,181 100.0
Speak English "very well" 571 48.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 610 51.7
Hmong 635 100.0
Speak English "very well" 359 56.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 276 43.5
Thai 978 100.0
Speak English "very well" 529 54.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 449 45.9
Laotian 513 100.0
Speak English "very well" 252 49.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 261 50.9
Vietnamese 5,809 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,957 33.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,852 66.3
Other Asian Languages 3,323 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,356 70.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 967 29.1
Tagalog 6,268 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,412 70.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,856 29.6
Other Pacific Island Languages 1,137 100.0
Speak English "very well" 911 80.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 226 19.9
Navajo 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other Native North American Languages 108 100.0
Speak English "very well" 83 76.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 25 23.1
Hungarian 692 100.0
Speak English "very well" 510 73.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 182 26.3
Arabic 4,218 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,572 61.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,646 39.0
Hebrew 1,258 100.0
Speak English "very well" 853 67.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 405 32.2
African Languages 2,061 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,047 50.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,014 49.2
Other and unspecified Languages 673 100.0
Speak English "very well" 554 82.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 119 17.7
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: