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WEST VIRGINIA
Language & Education

Other facts sheets for West Virginia:

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

Rankings
The following shows West Virginia'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: 47 out of 51
Percent of immigrants persons who are LEP: 46 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with a bachelor’s or higher degree: 4 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population with less than a high school diploma: 48 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 West Virginia increased by 59.1 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons age 5 and older in West Virginia who were LEP increased from 4,595 to 7,311, representing a change of 59.1 percent. In comparison, the size of the foreign-born LEP population grew from 3,279 to 4,595 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 40.1 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, 31.1 percent of immigrants age 5 and older in West Virginia were LEP.
In 2011, 31.1 percent of West Virginia's total foreign-born population age 5 and older were LEP compared with 24.1 percent in 2000 and 20.8 percent in 1990. Only 0.4 percent of similarly aged native-born persons in West Virginia 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 West Virginia, 68.2 percent of all children in families that spoke a language other than English reported having oral English proficiency.
In 2011, 6,867 children between ages 5 and 17 resided in homes in which members spoke a language other than English; of these children, 68.2 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 West Virginia were less likely to be LEP than noncitizens.
Of the foreign born in West Virginia in 2011, 18.4 percent of naturalized citizens age 5 and older were LEP compared to 39.6 percent of noncitizens.

Similarly, at the national level, 38.9 percent of naturalized citizens were LEP compared to 61.0 percent of noncitizens.

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. For the United States and the rest of the states the data are from 2011 ACS.

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

English Proficiency by Language Group

Rates of limited English proficiency were higher among speakers of certain language groupings than among others.
Among the foreign born older than 5 in West Virginia in 2011, 55.8 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home were LEP compared to 32.6 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 50.2 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 27.8 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 West Virginia in 2011, 0.3 percent were linguistically isolated, meaning that all persons age 14 and over in the household were LEP.
In West Virginia, 0.3 percent of all households (of both natives and the foreign born) were linguistically isolated in 2011, including 7.5 percent of Spanish-speaking households, 8.8 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 16.8 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 6.3 percent of households speaking other languages.

Nationwide, 4.6 percent of household were linguistically isolated. Of Spanish-speaking households, 24.3 percent were linguistically isolated, compared to 15.8 percent of households speaking other Indo-European languages, 27.7 percent of households speaking Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 17.1 percent of households speaking other languages.

Educational Attainment

The number of immigrants in West Virginia with a college degree increased by 14.1 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons in West Virginia older than 25 who had a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 6,663 to 7,604, representing a difference of 14.1 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born, college-educated population grew from 4,498 to 6,663 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 48.1 percent.

At the national level, the foreign-born population with a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 3,103,918 to 5,862,756 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 88.9 percent, and grew from 5,862,756 to 9,384,596 (60.1 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

The number of immigrants in West Virginia with less than a high school diploma decreased by -13.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the number of foreign-born persons older than 25 in West Virginia who had not completed high school decreased from 3,520 to 3,045, or -13.5 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population lacking a high school diploma decreased from 3,712 to 3,520 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of -5.2 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, 42.1 percent of immigrants in West Virginia had a college degree, while 16.8 percent did not complete high school.
In 2011, 42.1 percent of West Virginia's foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor's or higher degree while 16.8 percent lacked a high school diploma. In comparison, 18.1 percent of native-born persons above age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree in 2011, and 15.8 percent lacked a high school diploma. In 2000, 39.9 percent of the foreign born in West Virginia had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 21.1 percent had less than a high school diploma. In 1990, 34.2 percent had a college degree, and 28.2 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, 48.3 percent had a bachelor's or higher degree compared to 45.7 percent of noncitizens.
In West Virginia, 48.3 percent of foreign-born persons who were naturalized citizens had a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to 45.7 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, 12.1 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high school diploma compared to 18.8 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 West Virginia in 2011 varied by the language spoken at home.
Of the total population (both native and foreign born) age 25 and older in West Virginia, 18.0 percent of those who spoke only English at home had a college degree compared to 24.5 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 47.7 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 47.6 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 48.7 percent who spoke other languages.

At the same time, 15.8 percent of those who spoke only English lacked a high school diploma compared to 18.1 percent of those who spoke Spanish, 7.7 percent of those who spoke other Indo-European languages, 21.1 percent of those who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 3.9 percent who spoke other languages.

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

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Household Population of West Virginia, Age 5 and Older 1,680,071 100.0 1,706,931 100.0 1,751,216 100.0
Speak only English 1,636,159 97.4 1,661,036 97.3 1,710,906 97.7
Speak language other than English 43,912 2.6 45,895 2.7 40,310 2.3
Speak English "very well" 30,412 1.8 32,345 1.9 26,061 1.5
Speak English less than "very well"(LEP) 13,500 0.8 13,550 0.8 14,249 0.8
Native Born 1,664,282 100.0 1,687,826 100.0 1,727,696 100.0
Speak only English 1,629,835 97.9 1,654,496 98.0 1,704,359 98.6
Speak language other than English 34,447 2.1 33,330 2.0 23,337 1.4
Speak English "very well" 24,226 1.5 24,375 1.4 16,399 0.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 10,221 0.6 8,955 0.5 6,938 0.4
Foreign Born 15,789 100.0 19,105 100.0 23,520 100.0
Speak only English 6,324 40.1 6,540 34.2 6,547 27.8
Speak language other than English 9,465 59.9 12,565 65.8 16,973 72.2
Speak English "very well" 6,186 39.2 7,970 41.7 9,662 41.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 3,279 20.8 4,595 24.1 7,311 31.1
 
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of West Virginia, Age 5 and Older 26,860 1.6 71,145 4.2 44,285 2.6
Speak only English 24,877 1.5 74,747 4.6 49,870 3.0
Speak language other than English 1,983 4.5 -3,602 -8.2 -5,585 -12.2
Speak English "very well" 1,933 6.4 -4,351 -14.3 -6,284 -19.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 50 0.4 749 5.5 699 5.2
Native Born 23,544 1.4 63,414 3.8 39,870 2.4
Speak only English 24,661 1.5 74,524 4.6 49,863 3.0
Speak language other than English -1,117 -3.2 -11,110 -32.3 -9,993 -30.0
Speak English "very well" 149 0.6 -7,827 -32.3 -7,976 -32.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) -1,266 -12.4 -3,283 -32.1 -2,017 -22.5
Foreign Born 3,316 21.0 7,731 49.0 4,415 23.1
Speak only English 216 3.4 223 3.5 7 0.1
Speak language other than English 3,100 32.8 7,508 79.3 4,408 35.1
Speak English "very well" 1,784 28.8 3,476 56.2 1,692 21.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,316 40.1 4,032 123.0 2,716 59.1
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 West Virginia, Age 25 and Older 1,166,390 100.0 1,231,155 100.0 1,294,198 100.0
Less than high school diploma 396,491 34.0 304,146 24.7 204,372 15.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 140,912 12.1 182,244 14.8 239,041 18.5
Native Born 1,153,246 100.0 1,214,442 100.0 1,276,123 100.0
Less than high school diploma 392,779 34.1 300,626 24.8 201,327 15.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 136,414 11.8 175,581 14.5 231,437 18.1
Foreign Born 13,144 100.0 16,713 100.0 18,075 100.0
Less than high school diploma 3,712 28.2 3,520 21.1 3,045 16.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 4,498 34.2 6,663 39.9 7,604 42.1

 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Total Household Population of West Virginia, Age 25 and Older 64,765 5.6 127,808 11.0 63,043 5.1
Less than high school diploma -92,345 -23.3 -192,119 -48.5 -99,774 -32.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 41,332 29.3 98,129 69.6 56,797 31.2
Native Born 61,196 5.3 122,877 10.7 61,681 5.1
Less than high school diploma -92,153 -23.5 -191,452 -48.7 -99,299 -33.0
Bachelor's degree or higher 39,167 28.7 95,023 69.7 55,856 31.8
Foreign Born 3,569 27.2 4,931 37.5 1,362 8.1
Less than high school diploma -192 -5.2 -667 -18.0 -475 -13.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 2,165 48.1 3,106 69.1 941 14.1
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 West Virginia, Age 5 and Older 1,751,216
Speak only English 97.7
Speak language other than English 2.3
Speak English "very well" 1.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0.8
Native Born 1,727,696
Speak only English 98.6
Speak language other than English 1.4
Speak English "very well" 0.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0.4
Foreign Born 23,520
Speak only English 27.8
Speak language other than English 72.2
Speak English "very well" 41.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 31.1
Noncitizen1 13,277
Speak only English 22.5
Speak language other than English 77.5
Speak English "very well" 37.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 39.6
Naturalized Citizen1 10,987
Speak only English 38.3
Speak language other than English 61.7
Speak English "very well" 43.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 18.4
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 West Virginia, Age 25 and Older 1,294,198
Less than high school diploma 15.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 18.5
Native Born 1,276,123
Less than high school diploma 15.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 18.1
Foreign Born 18,075
Less than high school diploma 16.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 42.1
Noncitizen1 9,306
Less than high school diploma 18.8
Bachelor's degree or higher 45.7
Naturalized Citizen1 9,743
Less than high school diploma 12.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 48.3
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 West Virginia, 2011
Number Percent
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 25 and Older 1,294,198 100.0
Speak only English 1,267,044 100.0
Less than high school diploma 200,685 15.8
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 532,545 42.0
Some college or associate's degree 305,458 24.1
Bachelor's degree 228,356 18.0
Speak Spanish 9,837 100.0
Less than high school diploma 1,783 18.1
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 2,911 29.6
Some college or associate's degree 2,729 27.7
Bachelor's degree 2,414 24.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 11,382 100.0
Less than high school diploma 872 7.7
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 2,778 24.4
Some college or associate's degree 2,302 20.2
Bachelor's degree 5,430 47.7
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 4,660 100.0
Less than high school diploma 982 21.1
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 540 11.6
Some college or associate's degree 918 19.7
Bachelor's degree 2,220 47.6
Speak Other Languages 1,275 100.0
Less than high school diploma 50 3.9
High school diploma (includes equivalency) 249 19.5
Some college or associate's degree 355 27.8
Bachelor's degree 621 48.7
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,751,216 100.0
Native Born 1,727,696 100.0
Speak only English 1,704,359 98.6
Speak language other than English 23,337 1.4
Speak Spanish 11,546 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7,966 69.0
Speak English "well" 2,509 21.7
Speak English "not well" 1,030 8.9
Speak English "not at all" 41 0.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 9,418 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6,968 74.0
Speak English "well" 1,533 16.3
Speak English "not well" 917 9.7
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 1,665 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,177 70.7
Speak English "well" 78 4.7
Speak English "not well" 410 24.6
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 708 100.0
Speak English "very well" 288 40.7
Speak English "well" 245 34.6
Speak English "not well" 175 24.7
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Foreign Born 23,520 100.0
Speak only English 6,547 27.8
Speak language other than English 16,973 72.2
Speak Spanish 4,453 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,966 44.2
Speak English "well" 1,029 23.1
Speak English "not well" 982 22.1
Speak English "not at all" 476 10.7
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 5,905 100.0
Speak English "very well" 3,981 67.4
Speak English "well" 1,795 30.4
Speak English "not well" 129 2.2
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Asian or Pacific Island Languages 4,736 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,358 49.8
Speak English "well" 1,156 24.4
Speak English "not well" 1,222 25.8
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
Speak Other Languages 1,879 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,357 72.2
Speak English "well" 522 27.8
Speak English "not well" 0 0.0
Speak English "not at all" 0 0.0
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY AGE AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,751,216 100.0
Ages 5 to 17 282,683 100.0
Speak only English 275,816 97.6
Speak language other than English 6,867 2.4
Speak English “very well” 4,680 1.7
Speak English less than “very well” (LEP) 2,187 0.8
Speak Spanish 3,667 1.3
Speak English "very well" 2,460 0.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,207 0.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 1,948 0.7
Speak English "very well" 1,502 0.5
Speak English less than "very well" 446 0.2
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 967 0.3
Speak English "very well" 640 0.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 327 0.1
Speak Other Languages 285 0.1
Speak English "very well" 78 0.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 207 0.1
Ages 18 to 64 1,167,216 100.0
Speak only English 1,138,812 97.6
Speak language other than English 28,404 2.4
Speak English "very well" 18,228 1.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 10,176 0.9
Speak Spanish 11,543 1.0
Speak English "very well" 6,976 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 4,567 0.4
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 10,161 0.9
Speak English "very well" 7,167 0.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,994 0.3
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 4,595 0.4
Speak English "very well" 2,568 0.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2,027 0.2
Speak Other Languages 2,105 0.2
Speak English "very well" 1,517 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 588 0.1
Age 65 and Older 301,317 100.0
Speak only English 296,278 98.3
Speak language other than English 5,039 1.7
Speak English "very well" 3,153 1.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,886 0.6
Speak Spanish 789 0.3
Speak English "very well" 496 0.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 293 0.1
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 3,214 1.1
Speak English "very well" 2,280 0.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 934 0.3
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 839 0.3
Speak English "very well" 327 0.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 512 0.2
Speak Other Languages 197 0.1
Speak English "very well" 50 0.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 147 0.0
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLD
All Households 735,408 100.0
Linguistically isolated 2,122 0.3
Not linguistically isolated 733,286 99.7
Speak only English 712,609 100.0
Speak Spanish 8,953 100.0
Linguistically isolated 670 7.5
Not linguistically isolated 8,283 92.5
Speak Other Indo-European Languages 9,334 100.0
Linguistically isolated 818 8.8
Not linguistically isolated 8,516 91.2
Speak Asian and Pacific Island Languages 3,331 100.0
Linguistically isolated 560 16.8
Not linguistically isolated 2,771 83.2
Speak Other Languages 1,181 100.0
Linguistically isolated 74 6.3
Not linguistically isolated 1,107 93.7
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,749,410 100.0
Speak language other than English 41,646 100.0
Spanish or Spanish Creole 17,188 41.3
French (including Patois and Cajun) 3,223 7.7
French Creole 8 0.0
Italian 1,444 3.5
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 544 1.3
German 3,122 7.5
Yiddish 0 0.0
Other West Germanic languages 222 0.5
Scandinavian languages 88 0.2
Greek 500 1.2
Russian 539 1.3
Polish 267 0.6
Serbo-Croatian 283 0.7
Other Slavic languages 311 0.7
Armenian 0 0.0
Persian 285 0.7
Gujarathi 302 0.7
Hindi 548 1.3
Urdu 384 0.9
Other Indic languages 792 1.9
Other Indo-European languages 124 0.3
Chinese 2,254 5.4
Japanese 679 1.6
Korean 1,114 2.7
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 25 0.1
Hmong 0 0.0
Thai 397 1.0
Laotian 14 0.0
Vietnamese 894 2.1
Other Asian languages 958 2.3
Tagalog 975 2.3
Other Pacific Island languages 218 0.5
Navajo 0 0.0
Other Native North American languages 281 0.7
Hungarian 153 0.4
Arabic 2,284 5.5
Hebrew 89 0.2
African languages 811 1.9
Other and unspecified languages 326 0.8
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME
Total Household Population, Age 5 and Older 1,749,410 100.0
Speak only English 1,707,764 97.6
Speak language other than English 41,646 2.4
Spanish or Spanish Creole 17,188 100.00
Speak English "very well" 10,881 63.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 6,307 36.7
French (Including Patois and Cajun) 3,223 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,398 74.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 825 25.6
French Creole 8 100.0
Speak English "very well" 6 75.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2 25.0
Italian 1,444 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,104 76.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 340 23.5
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 544 100.0
Speak English "very well" 444 81.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 100 18.4
German 3,122 100.0
Speak English "very well" 2,261 72.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 861 27.6
Yiddish 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other West Germanic Languages 222 100.0
Speak English "very well" 222 100.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 0.0
Scandinavian Languages 88 100.0
Speak English "very well" 18 20.5
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 70 79.5
Greek 500 100.0
Speak English "very well" 422 84.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 78 15.6
Russian 539 100.0
Speak English "very well" 416 77.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 123 22.8
Polish 267 100.0
Speak English "very well" 216 80.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 51 19.1
Serbo-Croatian 283 100.0
Speak English "very well" 141 49.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 142 50.2
Other Slavic Languages 311 100.0
Speak English "very well" 255 82.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 56 18.0
Armenian 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Persian 285 100.0
Speak English "very well" 279 97.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 6 2.1
Gujarathi 302 100.0
Speak English "very well" 197 65.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 105 34.8
Hindi 548 100.0
Speak English "very well" 464 84.7
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 84 15.3
Urdu 384 100.0
Speak English "very well" 314 81.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 70 18.2
Other Indic Languages 792 100.0
Speak English "very well" 564 71.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 228 28.8
Other Indo-European Languages 124 100.0
Speak English "very well" 109 87.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 15 12.1
Chinese 2,254 100.0
Speak English "very well" 991 44.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 1,263 56.0
Japanese 679 100.0
Speak English "very well" 252 37.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 427 62.9
Korean 1,114 100.0
Speak English "very well" 849 76.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 265 23.8
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 25 100.0
Speak English "very well" 7 28.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 18 72.0
Hmong 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Thai 397 100.0
Speak English "very well" 242 61.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 155 39.0
Laotian 14 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 0.0
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 14 100.0
Vietnamese 894 100.0
Speak English "very well" 323 36.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 571 63.9
Other Asian Languages 958 100.0
Speak English "very well" 827 86.3
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 131 13.7
Tagalog 975 100.0
Speak English "very well" 649 66.6
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 326 33.4
Other Pacific Island Languages 218 100.0
Speak English "very well" 41 18.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 177 81.2
Navajo 0 100.0
Speak English "very well" 0 --
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 0 --
Other Native North American Languages 281 100.0
Speak English "very well" 124 44.1
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 157 55.9
Hungarian 153 100.0
Speak English "very well" 109 71.2
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 44 28.8
Arabic 2,284 100.0
Speak English "very well" 1,472 64.4
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 812 35.6
Hebrew 89 100.0
Speak English "very well" 87 97.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 2 2.2
African Languages 811 100.0
Speak English "very well" 639 78.8
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 172 21.2
Other and unspecified Languages 326 100.0
Speak English "very well" 254 77.9
Speak English less than "very well" (LEP) 72 22.1
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: