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

Population by English Proficiency

The foreign-born, limited English proficient (LEP) population age 5 and older in Tennessee increased by 107.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in Tennessee who were LEP increased from 71,293 to 147,906, representing a change of 107.5 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 14,421 to 71,293 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 394.4 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, 48.7 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in Tennessee were LEP.
In 2011, 48.7 percent of Tennessee's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 45.8 percent in 2000 and 24.9 percent in 1990. Only 0.5 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in Tennessee 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 Tennessee, 80.5 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 91,656 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 80.5 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 Tennessee were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in Tennessee in 2011, 28.4 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 59.5 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.

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 Tennessee in 2011, 69.9 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 35.0 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 54.6 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 52.1 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 Tennessee in 2011, 1.6 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In Tennessee, 1.6 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 27.2 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 9.2 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 25.1 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 34.3 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 Tennessee with a college degree increased by 84.8 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in Tennessee older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 35,866 to 66,284, representing a difference of 84.8 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 16,314 to 35,866 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 119.8 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 Tennessee with less than a high school diploma increased by 102.4 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in Tennessee who had not completed high school increased from 33,357 to 67,528, or 102.4 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 9,132 to 33,357 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 265.3 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, 27.8 percent of immigrants in Tennessee had a college degree, while 28.3 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 27.8 percent of Tennessee's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 28.3 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 23.4 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 15.0 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 31.5 percent of the foreign born in Tennessee had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 29.3 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 35.5 percent had a college degree, and 19.9 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, 34.1 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 23.8 percent of noncitizens.
In Tennessee, 34.1 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 23.8 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 17.8 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 34.8 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 Tennessee in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in Tennessee, 23.4 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 12.8 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 46.6 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 45.9 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 31.3 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 36.7 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 10.1 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.9 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.4 percent who spoke other languages.