#78 most spoken · language profile
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic in the United States
An estimated 35,661 people aged 5 and older speak Assyrian Neo-Aramaic at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 35.2% of them, roughly 12,552 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as San Jose, where about 40.9% of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Assyrian Neo-Aramaic is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 30 additional metro areas have Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 10,696 ±2K | 36.8% | 31.6–41.9% |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | 5,104 ±1K | 38.1% | 32–44.2% |
| 3 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,378 ±1K | 35.8% | 28.8–42.9% |
| 4 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,260 ±1K | 40.3% | 31.5–49.1% |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,873 ±836 | 32.8% | 23.2–42.4% |
| 6 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,493 ±543 | 40.9% | 29.1–52.8% |
| 7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,758 ±604 | not reliable | — |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 744 ±324 | not reliable | — |
Limited English means speaking English less than "very well." Margins of error are at the 90 percent confidence level. "Range" is the 90 percent confidence interval for the limited-English share.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many people speak Assyrian Neo-Aramaic in the United States?
- An estimated 35,661 people aged 5 and older speak Assyrian Neo-Aramaic at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 35.2 percent, roughly 12,552 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers?
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, with about 10,696 Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers at home.
- Where is Assyrian Neo-Aramaic interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out, where about 40.9 percent of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers report speaking English less than "very well."