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FLORIDA
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for Florida:

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

Rankings
The following shows Florida'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: 4 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 24 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 38 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 33 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 Florida increased by 43.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in Florida who were LEP increased from 1,238,649 to 1,779,580, representing a change of 43.7 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 738,005 to 1,238,649 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 67.8 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, 48.2 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in Florida were LEP.
In 2011, 48.2 percent of Florida's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 46.8 percent in 2000 and 44.8 percent in 1990. Only 2.5 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in Florida 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 Florida, 81.1 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 816,385 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 81.1 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 Florida were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in Florida in 2011, 36.8 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 59.6 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 Florida in 2011, 64.9 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 49.1 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 50.5 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 34.9 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 Florida in 2011, 7.0 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In Florida, 7.0 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 28.9 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 19.2 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 20.5 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 17.2 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 Florida with a college degree increased by 70.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in Florida older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 447,779 to 764,539, representing a difference of 70.7 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 211,121 to 447,779 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 112.1 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 Florida with less than a high school diploma increased by 5.8 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in Florida who had not completed high school increased from 747,171 to 790,419, or 5.8 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 558,485 to 747,171 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 33.8 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, 23.8 percent of immigrants in Florida had a college degree, while 24.6 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 23.8 percent of Florida's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 24.6 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 26.5 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 10.7 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 20.4 percent of the foreign born in Florida had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 34.0 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 15.3 percent had a college degree, and 40.6 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, 27.3 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 19.8 percent of noncitizens.
In Florida, 27.3 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 19.8 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 19.2 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 30.7 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 Florida in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in Florida, 26.5 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 21.2 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 27.7 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 42.7 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 44.7 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 10.7 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 25.1 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 19.2 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 18.2 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 Florida, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of Florida, Age 5 and Older 12,083,354 100.0 15,043,603 100.0 17,983,218 100.0
Speak only English 9,992,727 82.7 11,569,739 76.9 13,024,032 72.4
Speak language other than English 2,090,627 17.3 3,473,864 23.1 4,959,186 27.6
Speak English "very well" 1,129,919 9.4 1,918,999 12.8 2,825,219 15.7
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 960,708 8.0 1,554,865 10.3 2,133,967 11.9
Native Born 10,437,494 100.0 12,396,566 100.0 14,293,914 100.0
Speak only English 9,592,052 91.9 11,018,665 88.9 12,314,007 86.1
Speak language other than English 845,442 8.1 1,377,901 11.1 1,979,907 13.9
Speak English "very well" 622,739 6.0 1,061,685 8.6 1,625,520 11.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 222,703 2.1 316,216 2.6 354,387 2.5
Foreign Born 1,645,860 100.0 2,647,037 100.0 3,689,304 100.0
Speak only English 400,675 24.3 551,074 20.8 710,025 19.2
Speak language other than English 1,245,185 75.7 2,095,963 79.2 2,979,279 80.8
Speak English "very well" 507,180 30.8 857,314 32.4 1,199,699 32.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 738,005 44.8 1,238,649 46.8 1,779,580 48.2
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Florida, Age 5 and Older 2,960,249 24.5 5,899,864 48.8 2,939,615 19.5
Speak only English 1,577,012 15.8 3,031,305 30.3 1,454,293 12.6
Speak language other than English 1,383,237 66.2 2,868,559 137.2 1,485,322 42.8
Speak English "very well" 789,080 69.8 1,695,300 150.0 906,220 47.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 594,157 61.8 1,173,259 122.1 579,102 37.2
Native Born 1,959,072 18.8 3,856,420 36.9 1,897,348 15.3
Speak only English 1,426,613 14.9 2,721,955 28.4 1,295,342 11.8
Speak language other than English 532,459 63.0 1,134,465 134.2 602,006 43.7
Speak English "very well" 438,946 70.5 1,002,781 161.0 563,835 53.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 93,513 42.0 131,684 59.1 38,171 12.1
Foreign Born 1,001,177 60.8 2,043,444 124.2 1,042,267 39.4
Speak only English 150,399 37.5 309,350 77.2 158,951 28.8
Speak language other than English 850,778 68.3 1,734,094 139.3 883,316 42.1
Speak English "very well" 350,134 69.0 692,519 136.5 342,385 39.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 500,644 67.8 1,041,575 141.1 540,931 43.7
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 Florida, Age 25 and Older 8,874,666 100.0 11,029,306 100.0 13,267,581 100.0
Less than high school diploma 2,266,983 25.5 2,215,867 20.1 1,867,802 14.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,618,479 18.2 2,470,806 22.4 3,429,229 25.8
Native Born 7,498,123 100.0 8,830,550 100.0 10,053,955 100.0
Less than high school diploma 1,708,498 22.8 1,468,696 16.6 1,077,383 10.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,407,358 18.8 2,023,027 22.9 2,664,690 26.5
Foreign Born 1,376,543 100.0 2,198,756 100.0 3,213,626 100.0
Less than high school diploma 558,485 40.6 747,171 34.0 790,419 24.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 211,121 15.3 447,779 20.4 764,539 23.8

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Florida, Age 25 and Older 2,154,640 24.3 4,392,915 49.5 2,238,275 20.3
Less than high school diploma -51,116 -2.3 -399,181 -17.6 -348,065 -15.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 852,327 52.7 1,810,750 111.9 958,423 38.8
Native Born 1,332,427 17.8 2,555,832 34.1 1,223,405 13.9
Less than high school diploma -239,802 -14.0 -631,115 -36.9 -391,313 -26.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 615,669 43.7 1,257,332 89.3 641,663 31.7
Foreign Born 822,213 59.7 1,837,083 133.5 1,014,870 46.2
Less than high school diploma 188,686 33.8 231,934 41.5 43,248 5.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 236,658 112.1 553,418 262.1 316,760 70.7
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 Florida, Age 5 and Older 17,983,218
Speak only English 72.4
Speak language other than English 27.6
Speak English "very well" 15.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 11.9
Native Born 14,293,914
Speak only English 86.1
Speak language other than English 13.9
Speak English "very well" 11.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2.5
Foreign Born 3,689,304
Speak only English 19.2
Speak language other than English 80.8
Speak English "very well" 32.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 48.2
Noncitizen1 1,852,790
Speak only English 15.2
Speak language other than English 84.8
Speak English "very well" 25.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 59.6
Naturalized Citizen1 1,836,514
Speak only English 23.4
Speak language other than English 76.6
Speak English "very well" 39.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 36.8
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 Florida, Age 25 and Older 13,267,581
Less than high school diploma 14.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 25.8
Native Born 10,053,955
Less than high school diploma 10.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 26.5
Foreign Born 3,213,626
Less than high school diploma 24.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 23.8
Noncitizen1 1,498,228
Less than high school diploma 30.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 19.8
Naturalized Citizen1 1,715,398
Less than high school diploma 19.2
Bachelor's degree or higher 27.3
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 Florida, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 13,267,581 100.0
Speak only English 9,674,566 100.0
Less than high school diploma 1,031,992 10.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 3,031,133 31.3
Some college or associate's degree 3,052,089 31.5
Bachelor's degree 2,559,352 26.5
Speak Spanish 2,601,701 100.0
Less than high school diploma 653,832 25.1
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 760,935 29.2
Some college or associate's degree 635,763 24.4
Bachelor's degree 551,171 21.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 708,669 100.0
Less than high school diploma 136,319 19.2
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 184,502 26.0
Some college or associate's degree 191,253 27.0
Bachelor's degree 196,595 27.7
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 207,292 100.0
Less than high school diploma 37,715 18.2
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 39,550 19.1
Some college or associate's degree 41,589 20.1
Bachelor's degree 88,438 42.7
Speak Other Languages 75,353 100.0
Less than high school diploma 7,944 10.5
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 16,954 22.5
Some college or associate's degree 16,782 22.3
Bachelor's degree 33,673 44.7
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 17,983,218 100.0
Native Born 14,293,914 100.0
Speak only English 12,314,007 86.1
Speak language other than English 1,979,907 13.9
Speak Spanish 1,597,857 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,293,666 81.0
Speak English "well" 190,494 11.9
Speak English "not well" 93,160 5.8
Speak English "not at all" 20,537 1.3
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 293,967 100.0
Speak English "very well" 257,742 87.7
Speak English "well" 25,817 8.8
Speak English "not well" 10,262 3.5
Speak English "not at all" 146 0.0
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 53,113 100.0
Speak English "very well" 43,531 82.0
Speak English "well" 6,450 12.1
Speak English "not well" 3,132 5.9
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 34,970 100.0
Speak English "very well" 30,581 87.4
Speak English "well" 2,198 6.3
Speak English "not well" 1,147 3.3
Speak English "not at all" 1,044 3.0
Foreign Born 3,689,304 100.0
Speak only English 710,025 19.2
Speak language other than English 2,979,279 80.8
Speak Spanish 2,048,901 100.0
Speak English "very well" 719,338 35.1
Speak English "well" 462,210 22.6
Speak English "not well" 515,987 25.2
Speak English "not at all" 351,366 17.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 650,781 100.0
Speak English "very well" 331,515 50.9
Speak English "well" 185,842 28.6
Speak English "not well" 105,107 16.2
Speak English "not at all" 28,317 4.4
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 212,398 100.0
Speak English "very well" 105,121 49.5
Speak English "well" 62,590 29.5
Speak English "not well" 35,284 16.6
Speak English "not at all" 9,403 4.4
Speak Other Languages 67,199 100.0
Speak English "very well" 43,725 65.1
Speak English "well" 16,441 24.5
Speak English "not well" 5,369 8.0
Speak English "not at all" 1,664 2.5
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 17,983,218 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 2,920,626 100.0
Speak only English 2,104,241 72.0
Speak language other than English 816,385 28.0
Speak English “very well” 662,395 22.7
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 153,990 5.3
Speak Spanish 631,119 21.6
Speak English "very well" 512,347 17.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 118,772 4.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 136,259 4.7
Speak English "very well" 110,617 3.8
Speak English less than "very well" 25,642 0.9
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 33,193 1.1
Speak English "very well" 25,383 0.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,810 0.3
Speak Other Languages 15,814 0.5
Speak English "very well" 14,048 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,766 0.1
Ages 18 to 64 11,703,197 100.0
Speak only English 8,229,881 70.3
Speak language other than English 3,473,316 29.7
Speak English "very well" 1,933,210 16.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,540,106 13.2
Speak Spanish 2,569,848 22.0
Speak English "very well" 1,386,160 11.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,183,688 10.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 628,661 5.4
Speak English "very well" 381,951 3.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 246,710 2.1
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 202,320 1.7
Speak English "very well" 113,865 1.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 88,455 0.8
Speak Other Languages 72,487 0.6
Speak English "very well" 51,234 0.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 21,253 0.2
Age 65 and Older 3,359,395 100.0
Speak only English 2,689,910 80.1
Speak language other than English 669,485 19.9
Speak English "very well" 229,614 6.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 439,871 13.1
Speak Spanish 445,791 13.3
Speak English "very well" 114,497 3.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 331,294 9.9
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 179,828 5.4
Speak English "very well" 96,689 2.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 83,139 2.5
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 29,998 0.9
Speak English "very well" 9,404 0.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 20,594 0.6
Speak Other Languages 13,868 0.4
Speak English "very well" 9,024 0.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,844 0.1
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 7,106,283 100.0
Linguistically isolated 499,525 7.0
Not linguistically isolated 6,606,758 93.0
Speak only English 5,185,457 100.0
Speak Spanish 1,346,500 100.0
Linguistically isolated 388,623 28.9
Not linguistically isolated 957,877 71.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 415,749 100.0
Linguistically isolated 79,978 19.2
Not linguistically isolated 335,771 80.8
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 111,448 100.0
Linguistically isolated 22,818 20.5
Not linguistically isolated 88,630 79.5
Speak Other Languages 47,129 100.0
Linguistically isolated 8,106 17.2
Not linguistically isolated 39,023 82.8
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 17,983,218 100.0
Speak language other than English 4,959,186 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 3,646,758 73.5
French (including Patois and Cajun) 116,405 2.3
French Creole 362,045 7.3
Italian 50,607 1.0
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 86,032 1.7
German 69,637 1.4
Yiddish 4,646 0.1
Other West Germanic languages 12,411 0.3
Scandinavian languages 9,307 0.2
Greek 19,489 0.4
Russian 42,448 0.9
Polish 27,362 0.6
Serbo-Croatian 18,224 0.4
Other Slavic languages 18,108 0.4
Armenian 3,333 0.1
Persian 8,900 0.2
Gujarathi 15,986 0.3
Hindi 22,486 0.5
Urdu 17,432 0.4
Other Indic languages 17,605 0.4
Other Indo-European languages 22,285 0.4
Chinese 57,948 1.2
Japanese 12,897 0.3
Korean 16,808 0.3
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 3,073 0.1
Hmong 2,862 0.1
Thai 10,718 0.2
Laotian 3,513 0.1
Vietnamese 60,327 1.2
Other Asian languages 35,608 0.7
Tagalog 54,093 1.1
Other Pacific Island languages 7,664 0.2
Navajo 12 0.0
Other Native North American languages 1,714 0.0
Hungarian 13,643 0.3
Arabic 49,734 1.0
Hebrew 20,871 0.4
African languages 11,751 0.2
Other and unspecified languages 4,444 0.1
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 17,983,218 100.0
Speak only English 13,024,032 72.4
Speak language other than English 4,959,186 27.6
Spanish or Spanish Creole 3,646,758 100.00
Speak English "very well" 2,013,004 55.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,633,754 44.8
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 116,405 100.0
Speak English "very well" 83,529 71.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 32,876 28.2
French Creole 362,045 100.0
Speak English "very well" 186,170 51.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 175,875 48.6
Italian 50,607 100.0
Speak English "very well" 38,769 76.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 11,838 23.4
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 86,032 100.0
Speak English "very well" 48,300 56.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 37,732 43.9
German 69,637 100.0
Speak English "very well" 55,854 80.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13,783 19.8
Yiddish 4,646 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,197 90.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 449 9.7
Other West Germanic Languages 12,411 100.0
Speak English "very well" 11,282 90.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,129 9.1
Scandinavian Languages 9,307 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,839 84.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,468 15.8
Greek 19,489 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14,840 76.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,649 23.9
Russian 42,448 100.0
Speak English "very well" 25,537 60.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 16,911 39.8
Polish 27,362 100.0
Speak English "very well" 15,839 57.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 11,523 42.1
Serbo-Croatian 18,224 100.0
Speak English "very well" 11,068 60.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,156 39.3
Other Slavic Languages 18,108 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,304 56.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,804 43.1
Armenian 3,333 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,379 71.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 954 28.6
Persian 8,900 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,074 68.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,826 31.8
Gujarathi 15,986 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,234 64.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,752 36.0
Hindi 22,486 100.0
Speak English "very well" 17,815 79.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,671 20.8
Urdu 17,432 100.0
Speak English "very well" 12,468 71.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,964 28.5
Other Indic Languages 17,605 100.0
Speak English "very well" 11,726 66.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,879 33.4
Other Indo-European Languages 22,285 100.0
Speak English "very well" 15,033 67.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,252 32.5
Chinese 57,948 100.0
Speak English "very well" 28,684 49.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 29,264 50.5
Japanese 12,897 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,060 54.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,837 45.3
Korean 16,808 100.0
Speak English "very well" 8,183 48.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,625 51.3
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 3,073 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,651 53.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,422 46.3
Hmong 2,862 100.0
Speak English "very well" 939 32.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,923 67.2
Thai 10,718 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,882 45.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,836 54.5
Laotian 3,513 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,719 48.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,794 51.1
Vietnamese 60,327 100.0
Speak English "very well" 26,323 43.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 34,004 56.4
Other Asian Languages 35,608 100.0
Speak English "very well" 26,908 75.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,700 24.4
Tagalog 54,093 100.0
Speak English "very well" 37,240 68.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 16,853 31.2
Other Pacific Island Languages 7,664 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,063 66.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,601 33.9
Navajo 12 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 0.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 12 100.0
Other Native North American Languages 1,714 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,130 65.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 584 34.1
Hungarian 13,643 100.0
Speak English "very well" 9,347 68.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,296 31.5
Arabic 49,734 100.0
Speak English "very well" 35,224 70.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 14,510 29.2
Hebrew 20,871 100.0
Speak English "very well" 18,208 87.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,663 12.8
African Languages 11,751 100.0
Speak English "very well" 8,050 68.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,701 31.5
Other and unspecified Languages 4,444 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,347 52.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,097 47.2
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: