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NEBRASKA
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for Nebraska:

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

Rankings
The following shows Nebraska'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: 36 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 2 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 48 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 2 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 Nebraska increased by 65.3 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in Nebraska who were LEP increased from 40,709 to 67,289, representing a change of 65.3 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 8,568 to 40,709 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 375.1 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, 58.7 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in Nebraska were LEP.
In 2011, 58.7 percent of Nebraska's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 55.8 percent in 2000 and 32.6 percent in 1990. Only 0.8 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in Nebraska 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 Nebraska, 72.1 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 40,921 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 72.1 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 Nebraska were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in Nebraska in 2011, 43.7 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 67.0 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 Nebraska in 2011, 74.2 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 40.3 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 64.1 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 56.8 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 Nebraska in 2011, 2.9 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In Nebraska, 2.9 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 28.9 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 10.7 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 32.0 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 32.9 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 Nebraska with a college degree increased by 67.6 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in Nebraska older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 9,745 to 16,333, representing a difference of 67.6 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 5,260 to 9,745 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 85.3 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 Nebraska with less than a high school diploma increased by 63.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in Nebraska who had not completed high school increased from 24,650 to 40,301, or 63.5 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 7,683 to 24,650 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 220.8 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, 18.4 percent of immigrants in Nebraska had a college degree, while 45.3 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 18.4 percent of Nebraska's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 45.3 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 28.7 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 6.1 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 19.1 percent of the foreign born in Nebraska had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 48.4 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 24.4 percent had a college degree, and 35.6 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, 20.5 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 17.0 percent of noncitizens.
In Nebraska, 20.5 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 17.0 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 33.8 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 52.8 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 Nebraska in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in Nebraska, 28.7 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 10.9 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 40.1 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 31.8 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 34.0 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 6.0 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 49.6 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 9.8 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 32.0 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 20.8 percent who spoke other languages.

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

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of Nebraska, Age 5 and Older 1,457,237 100.0 1,594,700 100.0 1,711,659 100.0
Speak only English 1,388,199 95.3 1,469,046 92.1 1,535,651 89.7
Speak language other than English 69,038 4.7 125,654 7.9 176,008 10.3
Speak English "very well" 47,426 3.3 67,882 4.3 95,160 5.6
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 21,612 1.5 57,772 3.6 80,848 4.7
Native Born 1,430,963 100.0 1,521,752 100.0 1,596,946 100.0
Speak only English 1,379,730 96.4 1,457,899 95.8 1,521,318 95.3
Speak language other than English 51,233 3.6 63,853 4.2 75,628 4.7
Speak English "very well" 38,189 2.7 46,790 3.1 62,069 3.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13,044 0.9 17,063 1.1 13,559 0.8
Foreign Born 26,274 100.0 72,948 100.0 114,713 100.0
Speak only English 8,469 32.2 11,147 15.3 14,333 12.5
Speak language other than English 17,805 67.8 61,801 84.7 100,380 87.5
Speak English "very well" 9,237 35.2 21,092 28.9 33,091 28.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 8,568 32.6 40,709 55.8 67,289 58.7
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Nebraska, Age 5 and Older 137,463 9.4 254,422 17.5 116,959 7.3
Speak only English 80,847 5.8 147,452 10.6 66,605 4.5
Speak language other than English 56,616 82.0 106,970 154.9 50,354 40.1
Speak English "very well" 20,456 43.1 47,734 100.6 27,278 40.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 36,160 167.3 59,236 274.1 23,076 39.9
Native Born 90,789 6.3 165,983 11.6 75,194 4.9
Speak only English 78,169 5.7 141,588 10.3 63,419 4.4
Speak language other than English 12,620 24.6 24,395 47.6 11,775 18.4
Speak English "very well" 8,601 22.5 23,880 62.5 15,279 32.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,019 30.8 515 3.9 -3,504 -20.5
Foreign Born 46,674 177.6 88,439 336.6 41,765 57.3
Speak only English 2,678 31.6 5,864 69.2 3,186 28.6
Speak language other than English 43,996 247.1 82,575 463.8 38,579 62.4
Speak English "very well" 11,855 128.3 23,854 258.2 11,999 56.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 32,141 375.1 58,721 685.4 26,580 65.3
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 Nebraska, Age 25 and Older 994,625 100.0 1,087,081 100.0 1,196,112 100.0
Less than high school diploma 181,167 18.2 145,309 13.4 107,764 9.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 186,641 18.8 259,032 23.8 334,127 27.9
Native Born 973,054 100.0 1,036,170 100.0 1,107,208 100.0
Less than high school diploma 173,484 17.8 120,659 11.6 67,463 6.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 181,381 18.6 249,287 24.1 317,794 28.7
Foreign Born 21,571 100.0 50,911 100.0 88,904 100.0
Less than high school diploma 7,683 35.6 24,650 48.4 40,301 45.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 5,260 24.4 9,745 19.1 16,333 18.4

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of Nebraska, Age 25 and Older 92,456 9.3 201,487 20.3 109,031 10.0
Less than high school diploma -35,858 -19.8 -73,403 -40.5 -37,545 -25.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 72,391 38.8 147,486 79.0 75,095 29.0
Native Born 63,116 6.5 134,154 13.8 71,038 6.9
Less than high school diploma -52,825 -30.4 -106,021 -61.1 -53,196 -44.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 67,906 37.4 136,413 75.2 68,507 27.5
Foreign Born 29,340 136.0 67,333 312.1 37,993 74.6
Less than high school diploma 16,967 220.8 32,618 424.5 15,651 63.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 4,485 85.3 11,073 210.5 6,588 67.6
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 Nebraska, Age 5 and Older 1,711,659
Speak only English 89.7
Speak language other than English 10.3
Speak English "very well" 5.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4.7
Native Born 1,596,946
Speak only English 95.3
Speak language other than English 4.7
Speak English "very well" 3.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0.8
Foreign Born 114,713
Speak only English 12.5
Speak language other than English 87.5
Speak English "very well" 28.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 58.7
Noncitizen1 73,514
Speak only English 7.4
Speak language other than English 92.6
Speak English "very well" 25.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 67.0
Naturalized Citizen1 41,199
Speak only English 21.6
Speak language other than English 78.4
Speak English "very well" 34.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 43.7
Notes:
1. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (different years, see Note 1 above).
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 4. Educational Attainment by Citizenship Status
Total Household Population of Nebraska, Age 25 and Older 1,196,112
Less than high school diploma 9.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 27.9
Native Born 1,107,208
Less than high school diploma 6.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 28.7
Foreign Born 88,904
Less than high school diploma 45.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 18.4
Noncitizen1 54,008
Less than high school diploma 52.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 17.0
Naturalized Citizen1 34,896
Less than high school diploma 33.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 20.5
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 Nebraska, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 1,196,112 100.0
Speak only English 1,086,657 100.0
Less than high school diploma 65,689 6.0
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 323,509 29.8
Some college or associate's degree 385,696 35.5
Bachelor's degree 311,763 28.7
Speak Spanish 67,700 100.0
Less than high school diploma 33,602 49.6
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 15,730 23.2
Some college or associate's degree 10,958 16.2
Bachelor's degree 7,410 10.9
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 18,186 100.0
Less than high school diploma 1,784 9.8
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 3,597 19.8
Some college or associate's degree 5,518 30.3
Bachelor's degree 7,287 40.1
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 15,915 100.0
Less than high school diploma 5,096 32.0
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 2,782 17.5
Some college or associate's degree 2,973 18.7
Bachelor's degree 5,064 31.8
Speak Other Languages 7,654 100.0
Less than high school diploma 1,593 20.8
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 1,605 21.0
Some college or associate's degree 1,853 24.2
Bachelor's degree 2,603 34.0
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,711,659 100.0
Native Born 1,596,946 100.0
Speak only English 1,521,318 95.3
Speak language other than English 75,628 4.7
Speak Spanish 54,763 100.0
Speak English "very well" 44,121 80.6
Speak English "well" 6,707 12.2
Speak English "not well" 3,647 6.7
Speak English "not at all" 288 0.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 13,590 100.0
Speak English "very well" 11,878 87.4
Speak English "well" 704 5.2
Speak English "not well" 978 7.2
Speak English "not at all" 30 0.2
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 4,007 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,119 77.8
Speak English "well" 835 20.8
Speak English "not well" 53 1.3
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 3,268 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,951 90.3
Speak English "well" 261 8.0
Speak English "not well" 56 1.7
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Foreign Born 114,713 100.0
Speak only English 14,333 12.5
Speak language other than English 100,380 87.5
Speak Spanish 61,581 100.0
Speak English "very well" 15,883 25.8
Speak English "well" 15,046 24.4
Speak English "not well" 21,581 35.0
Speak English "not at all" 9,071 14.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 11,455 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,840 59.7
Speak English "well" 3,119 27.2
Speak English "not well" 1,401 12.2
Speak English "not at all" 95 0.8
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 19,934 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,165 35.9
Speak English "well" 5,287 26.5
Speak English "not well" 5,969 29.9
Speak English "not at all" 1,513 7.6
Speak Other Languages 7,410 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,203 43.2
Speak English "well" 2,251 30.4
Speak English "not well" 1,702 23.0
Speak English "not at all" 254 3.4
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,711,659 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 329,644 100.0
Speak only English 288,723 87.6
Speak language other than English 40,921 12.4
Speak English “very well” 29,520 9.0
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 11,401 3.5
Speak Spanish 30,778 9.3
Speak English "very well" 23,306 7.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,472 2.3
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 3,673 1.1
Speak English "very well" 2,406 0.7
Speak English less than "very well" 1,267 0.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 4,036 1.2
Speak English "very well" 2,190 0.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,846 0.6
Speak Other Languages 2,434 0.7
Speak English "very well" 1,618 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 816 0.2
Ages 18 to 64 1,132,218 100.0
Speak only English 1,008,461 89.1
Speak language other than English 123,757 10.9
Speak English "very well" 58,671 5.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 65,086 5.7
Speak Spanish 81,824 7.2
Speak English "very well" 35,113 3.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 46,711 4.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 15,679 1.4
Speak English "very well" 11,699 1.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,980 0.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 18,613 1.6
Speak English "very well" 7,813 0.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 10,800 1.0
Speak Other Languages 7,641 0.7
Speak English "very well" 4,046 0.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,595 0.3
Age 65 and Older 249,797 100.0
Speak only English 238,467 95.5
Speak language other than English 11,330 4.5
Speak English "very well" 6,969 2.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,361 1.7
Speak Spanish 3,742 1.5
Speak English "very well" 1,585 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,157 0.9
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 5,693 2.3
Speak English "very well" 4,613 1.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,080 0.4
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 1,292 0.5
Speak English "very well" 281 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,011 0.4
Speak Other Languages 603 0.2
Speak English "very well" 490 0.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 113 0.0
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 723,800 100.0
Linguistically isolated 20,743 2.9
Not linguistically isolated 703,057 97.1
Speak only English 643,311 100.0
Speak Spanish 48,393 100.0
Linguistically isolated 13,963 28.9
Not linguistically isolated 34,430 71.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 16,649 100.0
Linguistically isolated 1,780 10.7
Not linguistically isolated 14,869 89.3
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 9,796 100.0
Linguistically isolated 3,138 32.0
Not linguistically isolated 6,658 68.0
Speak Other Languages 5,651 100.0
Linguistically isolated 1,862 32.9
Not linguistically isolated 3,789 67.1
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,711,659 100.0
Speak language other than English 176,008 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 115,547 65.6
French (including Patois and Cajun) 4,758 2.7
French Creole 184 0.1
Italian 1,480 0.8
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 652 0.4
German 6,066 3.4
Yiddish 136 0.1
Other West Germanic languages 586 0.3
Scandinavian languages 448 0.3
Greek 321 0.2
Russian 1,319 0.7
Polish 1,006 0.6
Serbo-Croatian 500 0.3
Other Slavic languages 2,781 1.6
Armenian 10 0.0
Persian 848 0.5
Gujarathi 180 0.1
Hindi 1,523 0.9
Urdu 538 0.3
Other Indic languages 1,268 0.7
Other Indo-European languages 1,629 0.9
Chinese 3,640 2.1
Japanese 938 0.5
Korean 1,046 0.6
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 132 0.1
Hmong 60 0.0
Thai 715 0.4
Laotian 515 0.3
Vietnamese 7,007 4.0
Other Asian languages 4,785 2.7
Tagalog 1,874 1.1
Other Pacific Island languages 715 0.4
Navajo 4 0.0
Other Native North American languages 1,518 0.9
Hungarian 39 0.0
Arabic 3,616 2.1
Hebrew 108 0.1
African languages 5,691 3.2
Other and unspecified languages 247 0.1
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,711,659 100.0
Speak only English 1,535,651 89.7
Speak language other than English 176,008 10.3
Spanish or Spanish Creole 115,547 100.00
Speak English "very well" 58,762 50.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 56,785 49.1
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 4,758 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,396 71.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,362 28.6
French Creole 184 100.0
Speak English "very well" 163 88.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 21 11.4
Italian 1,480 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,185 80.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 295 19.9
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 652 100.0
Speak English "very well" 525 80.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 127 19.5
German 6,066 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,416 89.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 650 10.7
Yiddish 136 100.0
Speak English "very well" 94 69.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 42 30.9
Other West Germanic Languages 586 100.0
Speak English "very well" 517 88.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 69 11.8
Scandinavian Languages 448 100.0
Speak English "very well" 374 83.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 74 16.5
Greek 321 100.0
Speak English "very well" 256 79.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 65 20.2
Russian 1,319 100.0
Speak English "very well" 788 59.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 531 40.3
Polish 1,006 100.0
Speak English "very well" 765 76.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 241 24.0
Serbo-Croatian 500 100.0
Speak English "very well" 298 59.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 202 40.4
Other Slavic Languages 2,781 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,259 81.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 522 18.8
Armenian 10 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Persian 848 100.0
Speak English "very well" 287 33.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 561 66.2
Gujarathi 180 100.0
Speak English "very well" 77 42.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 103 57.2
Hindi 1,523 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,391 91.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 132 8.7
Urdu 538 100.0
Speak English "very well" 301 55.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 237 44.1
Other Indic Languages 1,268 100.0
Speak English "very well" 808 63.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 460 36.3
Other Indo-European Languages 1,629 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,189 73.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 440 27.0
Chinese 3,640 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,481 40.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,159 59.3
Japanese 938 100.0
Speak English "very well" 567 60.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 371 39.6
Korean 1,046 100.0
Speak English "very well" 596 57.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 450 43.0
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 132 100.0
Speak English "very well" 58 43.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 74 56.1
Hmong 60 100.0
Speak English "very well" 44 73.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 16 26.7
Thai 715 100.0
Speak English "very well" 334 46.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 381 53.3
Laotian 515 100.0
Speak English "very well" 164 31.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 351 68.2
Vietnamese 7,007 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,552 36.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,455 63.6
Other Asian Languages 4,785 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,441 51.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,344 49.0
Tagalog 1,874 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,584 84.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 290 15.5
Other Pacific Island Languages 715 100.0
Speak English "very well" 566 79.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 149 20.8
Navajo 4 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Other Native North American Languages 1,518 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,286 84.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 232 15.3
Hungarian 39 100.0
Speak English "very well" 15 38.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 24 61.5
Arabic 3,616 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,674 46.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,942 53.7
Hebrew 108 100.0
Speak English "very well" 104 96.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4 3.7
African Languages 5,691 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,917 51.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,774 48.7
Other and unspecified Languages 247 100.0
Speak English "very well" 132 53.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 115 46.6
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: