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NEW JERSEY
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for New Jersey:

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

Rankings
The following shows New Jersey'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: 6 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 25 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 13 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 42 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 New Jersey increased by 33.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in New Jersey who were LEP increased from 676,021 to 902,438, representing a change of 33.5 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 413,956 to 676,021 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 63.3 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, 48.0 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in New Jersey were LEP.
In 2011, 48.0 percent of New Jersey's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 46.3 percent in 2000 and 43.3 percent in 1990. Only 2.7 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in New Jersey 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 New Jersey, 82.2 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 421,664 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 82.2 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 New Jersey were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in New Jersey in 2011, 36.4 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 60.0 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 New Jersey in 2011, 71.1 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 46.6 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 48.6 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 36.8 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 New Jersey in 2011, 7.5 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In New Jersey, 7.5 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 29.0 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 18.3 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 25.2 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 14.1 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 New Jersey with a college degree increased by 57.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in New Jersey older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 371,477 to 585,195, representing a difference of 57.5 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 198,479 to 371,477 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 87.2 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 New Jersey with less than a high school diploma decreased by -0.3 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in New Jersey who had not completed high school decreased from 343,116 to 342,034, or -0.3 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma increased from 287,060 to 343,116 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 19.5 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, 35.4 percent of immigrants in New Jersey had a college degree, while 20.7 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 35.4 percent of New Jersey's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 20.7 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 35.2 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 8.5 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 31.0 percent of the foreign born in New Jersey had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 28.6 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 24.8 percent had a college degree, and 35.9 percent lacked a high school diploma.

Nationally, 27.3 percent of the foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011 compared to 24.1 percent in 2000 and 20.3 percent in 1990. At the same time, 31.5 percent of the foreign born at the national level lacked a high school diploma in 2011 compared to 38.2 percent in 2000 and 41.2 percent in 1990.

Of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens in 2011, 40.4 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 29.6 percent of noncitizens.
In New Jersey, 40.4 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 29.6 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 15.4 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 26.9 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 New Jersey in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in New Jersey, 36.4 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 14.5 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 42.3 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 64.6 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 45.0 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 7.6 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 30.0 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 17.2 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 8.4 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 8.6 percent who spoke other languages.

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

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of New Jersey, Age 5 and Older 7,174,096 100.0 7,856,268 100.0 8,285,611 100.0
Speak only English 5,769,285 80.4 5,854,578 74.5 5,764,850 69.6
Speak language other than English 1,404,811 19.6 2,001,690 25.5 2,520,761 30.4
Speak English "very well" 792,684 11.0 1,128,602 14.4 1,447,449 17.5
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 612,127 8.5 873,088 11.1 1,073,312 13.0
Native Born 6,218,657 100.0 6,396,191 100.0 6,405,892 100.0
Speak only English 5,563,574 89.5 5,610,762 87.7 5,469,718 85.4
Speak language other than English 655,083 10.5 785,429 12.3 936,174 14.6
Speak English "very well" 456,912 7.3 588,362 9.2 765,300 11.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 198,171 3.2 197,067 3.1 170,874 2.7
Foreign Born 955,439 100.0 1,460,077 100.0 1,879,719 100.0
Speak only English 205,711 21.5 243,816 16.7 295,132 15.7
Speak language other than English 749,728 78.5 1,216,261 83.3 1,584,587 84.3
Speak English "very well" 335,772 35.1 540,240 37.0 682,149 36.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 413,956 43.3 676,021 46.3 902,438 48.0
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of New Jersey, Age 5 and Older 682,172 9.5 1,111,515 15.5 429,343 5.5
Speak only English 85,293 1.5 -4,435 -0.1 -89,728 -1.5
Speak language other than English 596,879 42.5 1,115,950 79.4 519,071 25.9
Speak English "very well" 335,918 42.4 654,765 82.6 318,847 28.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 260,961 42.6 461,185 75.3 200,224 22.9
Native Born 177,534 2.9 187,235 3.0 9,701 0.2
Speak only English 47,188 0.8 -93,856 -1.7 -141,044 -2.5
Speak language other than English 130,346 19.9 281,091 42.9 150,745 19.2
Speak English "very well" 131,450 28.8 308,388 67.5 176,938 30.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) -1,104 -0.6 -27,297 -13.8 -26,193 -13.3
Foreign Born 504,638 52.8 924,280 96.7 419,642 28.7
Speak only English 38,105 18.5 89,421 43.5 51,316 21.0
Speak language other than English 466,533 62.2 834,859 111.4 368,326 30.3
Speak English "very well" 204,468 60.9 346,377 103.2 141,909 26.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 262,065 63.3 488,482 118.0 226,417 33.5
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 New Jersey, Age 25 and Older 5,147,710 100.0 5,651,912 100.0 6,004,613 100.0
Less than high school diploma 1,200,762 23.3 1,015,050 18.0 712,632 11.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,279,953 24.9 1,685,378 29.8 2,118,903 35.3
Native Born 4,348,588 100.0 4,452,754 100.0 4,353,027 100.0
Less than high school diploma 913,702 21.0 671,934 15.1 370,598 8.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,081,474 24.9 1,313,901 29.5 1,533,708 35.2
Foreign Born 799,122 100.0 1,199,158 100.0 1,651,586 100.0
Less than high school diploma 287,060 35.9 343,116 28.6 342,034 20.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 198,479 24.8 371,477 31.0 585,195 35.4

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of New Jersey, Age 25 and Older 504,202 9.8 856,903 16.6 352,701 6.2
Less than high school diploma -185,712 -15.5 -488,130 -40.7 -302,418 -29.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 405,425 31.7 838,950 65.5 433,525 25.7
Native Born 104,166 2.4 4,439 0.1 -99,727 -2.2
Less than high school diploma -241,768 -26.5 -543,104 -59.4 -301,336 -44.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 232,427 21.5 452,234 41.8 219,807 16.7
Foreign Born 400,036 50.1 852,464 106.7 452,428 37.7
Less than high school diploma 56,056 19.5 54,974 19.2 -1,082 -0.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 172,998 87.2 386,716 194.8 213,718 57.5
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 New Jersey, Age 5 and Older 8,285,611
Speak only English 69.6
Speak language other than English 30.4
Speak English "very well" 17.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 13.0
Native Born 6,405,892
Speak only English 85.4
Speak language other than English 14.6
Speak English "very well" 11.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2.7
Foreign Born 1,879,719
Speak only English 15.7
Speak language other than English 84.3
Speak English "very well" 36.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 48.0
Noncitizen1 923,144
Speak only English 10.8
Speak language other than English 89.2
Speak English "very well" 29.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 60.0
Naturalized Citizen1 956,575
Speak only English 20.4
Speak language other than English 79.6
Speak English "very well" 43.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 36.4
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 New Jersey, Age 25 and Older 6,004,613
Less than high school diploma 11.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 35.3
Native Born 4,353,027
Less than high school diploma 8.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 35.2
Foreign Born 1,651,586
Less than high school diploma 20.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 35.4
Noncitizen1 760,610
Less than high school diploma 26.9
Bachelor's degree or higher 29.6
Naturalized Citizen1 890,976
Less than high school diploma 15.4
Bachelor's degree or higher 40.4
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 New Jersey, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 6,004,613 100.0
Speak only English 4,162,559 100.0
Less than high school diploma 317,581 7.6
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 1,271,086 30.5
Some college or associate's degree 1,060,108 25.5
Bachelor's degree 1,513,784 36.4
Speak Spanish 881,722 100.0
Less than high school diploma 264,142 30.0
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 300,368 34.1
Some college or associate's degree 189,714 21.5
Bachelor's degree 127,498 14.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 569,269 100.0
Less than high school diploma 97,712 17.2
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 135,117 23.7
Some college or associate's degree 95,573 16.8
Bachelor's degree 240,867 42.3
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 309,908 100.0
Less than high school diploma 26,178 8.4
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 42,998 13.9
Some college or associate's degree 40,473 13.1
Bachelor's degree 200,259 64.6
Speak Other Languages 81,155 100.0
Less than high school diploma 7,019 8.6
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 17,648 21.7
Some college or associate's degree 19,993 24.6
Bachelor's degree 36,495 45.0
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 8,285,611 100.0
Native Born 6,405,892 100.0
Speak only English 5,469,718 85.4
Speak language other than English 936,174 14.6
Speak Spanish 615,185 100.0
Speak English "very well" 482,606 78.4
Speak English "well" 77,310 12.6
Speak English "not well" 40,426 6.6
Speak English "not at all" 14,843 2.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 211,239 100.0
Speak English "very well" 186,747 88.4
Speak English "well" 16,944 8.0
Speak English "not well" 7,256 3.4
Speak English "not at all" 292 0.1
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 75,244 100.0
Speak English "very well" 66,238 88.0
Speak English "well" 6,823 9.1
Speak English "not well" 1,935 2.6
Speak English "not at all" 248 0.3
Speak Other Languages 34,506 100.0
Speak English "very well" 29,709 86.1
Speak English "well" 3,957 11.5
Speak English "not well" 840 2.4
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Foreign Born 1,879,719 100.0
Speak only English 295,132 15.7
Speak language other than English 1,584,587 84.3
Speak Spanish 673,087 100.0
Speak English "very well" 194,207 28.9
Speak English "well" 165,231 24.5
Speak English "not well" 205,484 30.5
Speak English "not at all" 108,165 16.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 509,072 100.0
Speak English "very well" 271,787 53.4
Speak English "well" 138,474 27.2
Speak English "not well" 74,966 14.7
Speak English "not at all" 23,845 4.7
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 323,603 100.0
Speak English "very well" 166,313 51.4
Speak English "well" 93,813 29.0
Speak English "not well" 51,412 15.9
Speak English "not at all" 12,065 3.7
Speak Other Languages 78,825 100.0
Speak English "very well" 49,842 63.2
Speak English "well" 19,632 24.9
Speak English "not well" 6,618 8.4
Speak English "not at all" 2,733 3.5
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 8,285,611 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 1,506,881 100.0
Speak only English 1,085,217 72.0
Speak language other than English 421,664 28.0
Speak English “very well” 346,711 23.0
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 74,953 5.0
Speak Spanish 249,357 16.5
Speak English "very well" 198,138 13.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 51,219 3.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 91,354 6.1
Speak English "very well" 80,947 5.4
Speak English less than "very well" 10,407 0.7
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 62,138 4.1
Speak English "very well" 51,730 3.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 10,408 0.7
Speak Other Languages 18,815 1.2
Speak English "very well" 15,896 1.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,919 0.2
Ages 18 to 64 5,571,952 100.0
Speak only English 3,740,832 67.1
Speak language other than English 1,831,120 32.9
Speak English "very well" 1,007,380 18.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 823,740 14.8
Speak Spanish 943,246 16.9
Speak English "very well" 457,445 8.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 485,801 8.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 507,797 9.1
Speak English "very well" 324,666 5.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 183,131 3.3
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 296,935 5.3
Speak English "very well" 167,477 3.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 129,458 2.3
Speak Other Languages 83,142 1.5
Speak English "very well" 57,792 1.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 25,350 0.5
Age 65 and Older 1,206,778 100.0
Speak only English 938,801 77.8
Speak language other than English 267,977 22.2
Speak English "very well" 93,358 7.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 174,619 14.5
Speak Spanish 95,669 7.9
Speak English "very well" 21,230 1.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 74,439 6.2
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 121,160 10.0
Speak English "very well" 52,921 4.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 68,239 5.7
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 39,774 3.3
Speak English "very well" 13,344 1.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 26,430 2.2
Speak Other Languages 11,374 0.9
Speak English "very well" 5,863 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,511 0.5
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 3,167,629 100.0
Linguistically isolated 238,940 7.5
Not linguistically isolated 2,928,689 92.5
Speak only English 2,183,440 100.0
Speak Spanish 465,985 100.0
Linguistically isolated 135,245 29.0
Not linguistically isolated 330,740 71.0
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 317,778 100.0
Linguistically isolated 58,111 18.3
Not linguistically isolated 259,667 81.7
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 156,287 100.0
Linguistically isolated 39,370 25.2
Not linguistically isolated 116,917 74.8
Speak Other Languages 44,139 100.0
Linguistically isolated 6,214 14.1
Not linguistically isolated 37,925 85.9
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 8,285,611 100.0
Speak language other than English 2,520,761 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 1,254,965 49.8
French (including Patois and Cajun) 36,379 1.4
French Creole 45,571 1.8
Italian 80,157 3.2
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 87,998 3.5
German 28,004 1.1
Yiddish 6,171 0.2
Other West Germanic languages 3,109 0.1
Scandinavian languages 3,098 0.1
Greek 19,839 0.8
Russian 46,298 1.8
Polish 69,383 2.8
Serbo-Croatian 7,849 0.3
Other Slavic languages 20,928 0.8
Armenian 5,428 0.2
Persian 9,184 0.4
Gujarathi 73,346 2.9
Hindi 60,498 2.4
Urdu 26,542 1.1
Other Indic languages 53,486 2.1
Other Indo-European languages 21,367 0.8
Chinese 112,057 4.4
Japanese 11,828 0.5
Korean 79,408 3.2
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 457 0.0
Hmong 14 0.0
Thai 3,082 0.1
Laotian 230 0.0
Vietnamese 21,476 0.9
Other Asian languages 71,535 2.8
Tagalog 77,905 3.1
Other Pacific Island languages 4,451 0.2
Navajo 0 0.0
Other Native North American languages 824 0.0
Hungarian 6,793 0.3
Arabic 51,800 2.1
Hebrew 16,506 0.7
African languages 33,420 1.3
Other and unspecified languages 3,731 0.1
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 8,285,611 100.0
Speak only English 5,764,850 69.6
Speak language other than English 2,520,761 30.4
Spanish or Spanish Creole 1,254,965 100.00
Speak English "very well" 660,296 52.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 594,669 47.4
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 36,379 100.0
Speak English "very well" 26,983 74.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 9,396 25.8
French Creole 45,571 100.0
Speak English "very well" 26,845 58.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 18,726 41.1
Italian 80,157 100.0
Speak English "very well" 55,350 69.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 24,807 30.9
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 87,998 100.0
Speak English "very well" 46,178 52.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 41,820 47.5
German 28,004 100.0
Speak English "very well" 23,238 83.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,766 17.0
Yiddish 6,171 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,589 90.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 582 9.4
Other West Germanic Languages 3,109 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,848 91.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 261 8.4
Scandinavian Languages 3,098 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,909 93.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 189 6.1
Greek 19,839 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14,624 73.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,215 26.3
Russian 46,298 100.0
Speak English "very well" 26,700 57.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 19,598 42.3
Polish 69,383 100.0
Speak English "very well" 38,420 55.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 30,963 44.6
Serbo-Croatian 7,849 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,040 64.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,809 35.8
Other Slavic Languages 20,928 100.0
Speak English "very well" 12,943 61.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,985 38.2
Armenian 5,428 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,231 59.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,197 40.5
Persian 9,184 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,284 68.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,900 31.6
Gujarathi 73,346 100.0
Speak English "very well" 42,350 57.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 30,996 42.3
Hindi 60,498 100.0
Speak English "very well" 44,989 74.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15,509 25.6
Urdu 26,542 100.0
Speak English "very well" 19,321 72.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,221 27.2
Other Indic Languages 53,486 100.0
Speak English "very well" 34,903 65.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 18,583 34.7
Other Indo-European Languages 21,367 100.0
Speak English "very well" 13,454 63.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,913 37.0
Chinese 112,057 100.0
Speak English "very well" 61,408 54.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 50,649 45.2
Japanese 11,828 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,326 53.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 5,502 46.5
Korean 79,408 100.0
Speak English "very well" 37,901 47.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 41,507 52.3
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 457 100.0
Speak English "very well" 156 34.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 301 65.9
Hmong 14 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Thai 3,082 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,600 51.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,482 48.1
Laotian 230 100.0
Speak English "very well" 112 48.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 118 51.3
Vietnamese 21,476 100.0
Speak English "very well" 9,197 42.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 12,279 57.2
Other Asian Languages 71,535 100.0
Speak English "very well" 51,487 72.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 20,048 28.0
Tagalog 77,905 100.0
Speak English "very well" 55,418 71.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 22,487 28.9
Other Pacific Island Languages 4,451 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,856 64.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,595 35.8
Navajo 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other Native North American Languages 824 100.0
Speak English "very well" 598 72.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 226 27.4
Hungarian 6,793 100.0
Speak English "very well" 4,186 61.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,607 38.4
Arabic 51,800 100.0
Speak English "very well" 32,413 62.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 19,387 37.4
Hebrew 16,506 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14,512 87.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,994 12.1
African Languages 33,420 100.0
Speak English "very well" 26,055 78.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 7,365 22.0
Other and unspecified Languages 3,731 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,071 55.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,660 44.5
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: