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IOWA
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for Iowa:

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

Rankings
The following shows Iowa'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: 37 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 20 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 28 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 14 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 Iowa increased by 47.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in Iowa who were LEP increased from 43,752 to 64,532, representing a change of 47.5 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 15,895 to 43,752 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 175.3 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, 49.0 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in Iowa were LEP.
In 2011, 49.0 percent of Iowa's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 49.2 percent in 2000 and 35.9 percent in 1990. Only 0.8 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in Iowa 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 Iowa, 73.8 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 51,751 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 73.8 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 Iowa were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in Iowa in 2011, 33.8 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 58.3 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 Iowa in 2011, 75.0 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 35.8 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 60.4 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 40.4 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 Iowa in 2011, 1.6 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In Iowa, 1.6 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 24.6 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 8.2 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 27.2 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 17.7 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 Iowa with a college degree increased by 67.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in Iowa older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 16,928 to 28,390, representing a difference of 67.7 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 10,544 to 16,928 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 60.5 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 Iowa with less than a high school diploma increased by 55.0 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in Iowa who had not completed high school increased from 22,452 to 34,806, or 55.0 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 11,109 to 22,452 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 102.1 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, 28.2 percent of immigrants in Iowa had a college degree, while 34.5 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 28.2 percent of Iowa's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 34.5 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 25.7 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 8.1 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 27.5 percent of the foreign born in Iowa had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 36.5 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 31.2 percent had a college degree, and 32.8 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, 28.3 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 28.1 percent of noncitizens.
In Iowa, 28.3 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 28.1 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 26.6 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 40.1 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 Iowa in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in Iowa, 25.7 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 14.3 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 38.6 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 44.1 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 27.9 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 7.9 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 43.6 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 19.1 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 20.7 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 28.7 percent who spoke other languages.

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

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of Iowa, Age 5 and Older 2,571,129 100.0 2,738,499 100.0 2,864,107 100.0
Speak only English 2,470,831 96.1 2,578,477 94.2 2,656,041 92.7
Speak language other than English 100,298 3.9 160,022 5.8 208,066 7.3
Speak English "very well" 64,263 2.5 91,914 3.4 122,990 4.3
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 36,035 1.4 68,108 2.5 85,076 3.0
Native Born 2,526,867 100.0 2,649,650 100.0 2,732,450 100.0
Speak only English 2,457,415 97.3 2,561,123 96.7 2,632,285 96.3
Speak language other than English 69,452 2.7 88,527 3.3 100,165 3.7
Speak English "very well" 49,312 2.0 64,171 2.4 79,621 2.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 20,140 0.8 24,356 0.9 20,544 0.8
Foreign Born 44,262 100.0 88,849 100.0 131,657 100.0
Speak only English 13,416 30.3 17,354 19.5 23,756 18.0
Speak language other than English 30,846 69.7 71,495 80.5 107,901 82.0
Speak English "very well" 14,951 33.8 27,743 31.2 43,369 32.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15,895 35.9 43,752 49.2 64,532 49.0
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Iowa, Age 5 and Older 167,370 6.5 292,978 11.4 125,608 4.6
Speak only English 107,646 4.4 185,210 7.5 77,564 3.0
Speak language other than English 59,724 59.5 107,768 107.4 48,044 30.0
Speak English "very well" 27,651 43.0 58,727 91.4 31,076 33.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 32,073 89.0 49,041 136.1 16,968 24.9
Native Born 122,783 4.9 205,583 8.1 82,800 3.1
Speak only English 103,708 4.2 174,870 7.1 71,162 2.8
Speak language other than English 19,075 27.5 30,713 44.2 11,638 13.1
Speak English "very well" 14,859 30.1 30,309 61.5 15,450 24.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,216 20.9 404 2.0 -3,812 -15.7
Foreign Born 44,587 100.7 87,395 197.4 42,808 48.2
Speak only English 3,938 29.4 10,340 77.1 6,402 36.9
Speak language other than English 40,649 131.8 77,055 249.8 36,406 50.9
Speak English "very well" 12,792 85.6 28,418 190.1 15,626 56.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 27,857 175.3 48,637 306.0 20,780 47.5
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 Iowa, Age 25 and Older 1,767,854 100.0 1,892,327 100.0 2,027,201 100.0
Less than high school diploma 353,361 20.0 262,767 13.9 190,089 9.4
Bachelor's degree or higher 298,583 16.9 399,865 21.1 523,099 25.8
Native Born 1,734,021 100.0 1,830,858 100.0 1,926,426 100.0
Less than high school diploma 342,252 19.7 240,315 13.1 155,283 8.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 288,039 16.6 382,937 20.9 494,709 25.7
Foreign Born 33,833 100.0 61,469 100.0 100,775 100.0
Less than high school diploma 11,109 32.8 22,452 36.5 34,806 34.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 10,544 31.2 16,928 27.5 28,390 28.2

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Iowa, Age 25 and Older 124,473 7.0 259,347 14.7 134,874 7.1
Less than high school diploma -90,594 -25.6 -163,272 -46.2 -72,678 -27.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 101,282 33.9 224,516 75.2 123,234 30.8
Native Born 96,837 5.6 192,405 11.1 95,568 5.2
Less than high school diploma -101,937 -29.8 -186,969 -54.6 -85,032 -35.4
Bachelor's degree or higher 94,898 32.9 206,670 71.8 111,772 29.2
Foreign Born 27,636 81.7 66,942 197.9 39,306 63.9
Less than high school diploma 11,343 102.1 23,697 213.3 12,354 55.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 6,384 60.5 17,846 169.3 11,462 67.7
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 Iowa, Age 5 and Older 2,864,107
Speak only English 92.7
Speak language other than English 7.3
Speak English "very well" 4.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3.0
Native Born 2,732,450
Speak only English 96.3
Speak language other than English 3.7
Speak English "very well" 2.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0.8
Foreign Born 131,657
Speak only English 18.0
Speak language other than English 82.0
Speak English "very well" 32.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 49.0
Noncitizen1 81,656
Speak only English 12.2
Speak language other than English 87.8
Speak English "very well" 29.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 58.3
Naturalized Citizen1 50,001
Speak only English 27.5
Speak language other than English 72.5
Speak English "very well" 38.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 33.8
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 Iowa, Age 25 and Older 2,027,201
Less than high school diploma 9.4
Bachelor's degree or higher 25.8
Native Born 1,926,426
Less than high school diploma 8.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 25.7
Foreign Born 100,775
Less than high school diploma 34.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 28.2
Noncitizen1 59,168
Less than high school diploma 40.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 28.1
Naturalized Citizen1 41,607
Less than high school diploma 26.6
Bachelor's degree or higher 28.3
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 Iowa, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 2,027,201 100.0
Speak only English 1,903,397 100.0
Less than high school diploma 150,257 7.9
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 642,665 33.8
Some college or associate's degree 620,562 32.6
Bachelor's degree 489,913 25.7
Speak Spanish 61,839 100.0
Less than high school diploma 26,933 43.6
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 14,886 24.1
Some college or associate's degree 11,177 18.1
Bachelor's degree 8,843 14.3
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 32,714 100.0
Less than high school diploma 6,259 19.1
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 7,246 22.1
Some college or associate's degree 6,592 20.2
Bachelor's degree 12,617 38.6
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 21,953 100.0
Less than high school diploma 4,547 20.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 4,430 20.2
Some college or associate's degree 3,285 15.0
Bachelor's degree 9,691 44.1
Speak Other Languages 7,298 100.0
Less than high school diploma 2,093 28.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 876 12.0
Some college or associate's degree 2,294 31.4
Bachelor's degree 2,035 27.9
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 2,864,107 100.0
Native Born 2,732,450 100.0
Speak only English 2,632,285 96.3
Speak language other than English 100,165 3.7
Speak Spanish 65,019 100.0
Speak English "very well" 51,572 79.3
Speak English "well" 7,142 11.0
Speak English "not well" 5,731 8.8
Speak English "not at all" 574 0.9
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 24,670 100.0
Speak English "very well" 19,348 78.4
Speak English "well" 4,039 16.4
Speak English "not well" 1,188 4.8
Speak English "not at all" 95 0.4
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 5,804 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,578 78.9
Speak English "well" 809 13.9
Speak English "not well" 417 7.2
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 4,672 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,123 88.2
Speak English "well" 549 11.8
Speak English "not well" 0 0.0
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Foreign Born 131,657 100.0
Speak only English 23,756 18.0
Speak language other than English 107,901 82.0
Speak Spanish 48,932 100.0
Speak English "very well" 12,241 25.0
Speak English "well" 13,040 26.6
Speak English "not well" 16,012 32.7
Speak English "not at all" 7,639 15.6
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 25,075 100.0
Speak English "very well" 16,090 64.2
Speak English "well" 4,588 18.3
Speak English "not well" 2,813 11.2
Speak English "not at all" 1,584 6.3
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 25,816 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,221 39.6
Speak English "well" 8,921 34.6
Speak English "not well" 4,622 17.9
Speak English "not at all" 2,052 7.9
Speak Other Languages 8,078 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,817 59.6
Speak English "well" 1,402 17.4
Speak English "not well" 1,759 21.8
Speak English "not at all" 100 1.2
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 2,864,107 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 525,654 100.0
Speak only English 473,903 90.2
Speak language other than English 51,751 9.8
Speak English “very well” 38,209 7.3
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 13,542 2.6
Speak Spanish 34,614 6.6
Speak English "very well" 26,240 5.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,374 1.6
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 9,012 1.7
Speak English "very well" 6,226 1.2
Speak English less than "very well" 2,786 0.5
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 4,524 0.9
Speak English "very well" 2,649 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,875 0.4
Speak Other Languages 3,601 0.7
Speak English "very well" 3,094 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 507 0.1
Ages 18 to 64 1,880,263 100.0
Speak only English 1,738,370 92.5
Speak language other than English 141,893 7.5
Speak English "very well" 76,297 4.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 65,596 3.5
Speak Spanish 74,291 4.0
Speak English "very well" 34,687 1.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 39,604 2.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 34,255 1.8
Speak English "very well" 24,499 1.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 9,756 0.5
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 24,631 1.3
Speak English "very well" 11,603 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13,028 0.7
Speak Other Languages 8,716 0.5
Speak English "very well" 5,508 0.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,208 0.2
Age 65 and Older 458,190 100.0
Speak only English 443,768 96.9
Speak language other than English 14,422 3.1
Speak English "very well" 8,484 1.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,938 1.3
Speak Spanish 5,046 1.1
Speak English "very well" 2,886 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,160 0.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 6,478 1.4
Speak English "very well" 4,713 1.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,765 0.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 2,465 0.5
Speak English "very well" 547 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,918 0.4
Speak Other Languages 433 0.1
Speak English "very well" 338 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 95 0.0
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 1,216,765 100.0
Linguistically isolated 19,185 1.6
Not linguistically isolated 1,197,580 98.4
Speak only English 1,121,977 100.0
Speak Spanish 50,195 100.0
Linguistically isolated 12,355 24.6
Not linguistically isolated 37,840 75.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 25,384 100.0
Linguistically isolated 2,087 8.2
Not linguistically isolated 23,297 91.8
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 14,055 100.0
Linguistically isolated 3,829 27.2
Not linguistically isolated 10,226 72.8
Speak Other Languages 5,154 100.0
Linguistically isolated 914 17.7
Not linguistically isolated 4,240 82.3
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 2,864,107 100.0
Speak language other than English 208,066 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 113,951 54.8
French (including Patois and Cajun) 5,156 2.5
French Creole 0 0.0
Italian 1,204 0.6
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 745 0.4
German 12,395 6.0
Yiddish 0 0.0
Other West Germanic languages 4,542 2.2
Scandinavian languages 1,496 0.7
Greek 826 0.4
Russian 1,178 0.6
Polish 281 0.1
Serbo-Croatian 7,364 3.5
Other Slavic languages 1,061 0.5
Armenian 327 0.2
Persian 113 0.1
Gujarathi 1,486 0.7
Hindi 4,339 2.1
Urdu 1,216 0.6
Other Indic languages 5,184 2.5
Other Indo-European languages 832 0.4
Chinese 8,613 4.1
Japanese 749 0.4
Korean 4,268 2.1
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 413 0.2
Hmong 1,016 0.5
Thai 986 0.5
Laotian 3,471 1.7
Vietnamese 5,660 2.7
Other Asian languages 2,780 1.3
Tagalog 2,638 1.3
Other Pacific Island languages 1,026 0.5
Navajo 0 0.0
Other Native North American languages 1,556 0.7
Hungarian 18 0.0
Arabic 5,442 2.6
Hebrew 96 0.0
African languages 4,888 2.3
Other and unspecified languages 750 0.4
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 2,864,107 100.0
Speak only English 2,656,041 92.7
Speak language other than English 208,066 7.3
Spanish or Spanish Creole 113,951 100.00
Speak English "very well" 63,813 56.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 50,138 44.0
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 5,156 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,181 81.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 975 18.9
French Creole 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Italian 1,204 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,163 96.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 41 3.4
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 745 100.0
Speak English "very well" 624 83.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 121 16.2
German 12,395 100.0
Speak English "very well" 8,332 67.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,063 32.8
Yiddish 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other West Germanic Languages 4,542 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,168 69.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,374 30.3
Scandinavian Languages 1,496 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,432 95.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 64 4.3
Greek 826 100.0
Speak English "very well" 654 79.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 172 20.8
Russian 1,178 100.0
Speak English "very well" 618 52.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 560 47.5
Polish 281 100.0
Speak English "very well" 167 59.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 114 40.6
Serbo-Croatian 7,364 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,806 65.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,558 34.7
Other Slavic Languages 1,061 100.0
Speak English "very well" 919 86.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 142 13.4
Armenian 327 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 0.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 327 100.0
Persian 113 100.0
Speak English "very well" 69 61.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 44 38.9
Gujarathi 1,486 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,235 83.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 251 16.9
Hindi 4,339 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,695 62.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,644 37.9
Urdu 1,216 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,011 83.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 205 16.9
Other Indic Languages 5,184 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,594 69.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,590 30.7
Other Indo-European Languages 832 100.0
Speak English "very well" 770 92.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 62 7.5
Chinese 8,613 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,957 45.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,656 54.1
Japanese 749 100.0
Speak English "very well" 344 45.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 405 54.1
Korean 4,268 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,389 32.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,879 67.5
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 413 100.0
Speak English "very well" 180 43.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 233 56.4
Hmong 1,016 100.0
Speak English "very well" 267 26.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 749 73.7
Thai 986 100.0
Speak English "very well" 574 58.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 412 41.8
Laotian 3,471 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,390 40.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,081 60.0
Vietnamese 5,660 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,239 39.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,421 60.4
Other Asian Languages 2,780 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,942 69.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 838 30.1
Tagalog 2,638 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,100 79.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 538 20.4
Other Pacific Island Languages 1,026 100.0
Speak English "very well" 417 40.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 609 59.4
Navajo 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other Native North American Languages 1,556 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,386 89.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 170 10.9
Hungarian 18 100.0
Speak English "very well" 18 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Arabic 5,442 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,894 71.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,548 28.4
Hebrew 96 100.0
Speak English "very well" 96 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
African Languages 4,888 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,436 70.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,452 29.7
Other and unspecified Languages 750 100.0
Speak English "very well" 110 14.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 640 85.3
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: