#118 most spoken · language profile
Cajun French in the United States
An estimated 11,204 people aged 5 and older speak Cajun French at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 11.3% of them, roughly 1,268 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as Lafayette, where about 13.2% of Cajun French speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Cajun French is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 13 additional metro areas have Cajun French speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette, LA | 3,355 ±496 | 13.2% | 9.2–17.1% |
| 2 | Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 2,617 ±459 | not reliable | — |
| 3 | Lake Charles, LA | 1,638 ±405 | not reliable | — |
| 4 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 983 ±439 | not reliable | — |
| 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | 587 ±208 | not reliable | — |
| 6 | Alexandria, LA | 507 ±173 | 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.
Help Cajun French speakers be understood
Every dot on this map is a person who deserves to be understood. Medical, legal, and community interpreters turn that need into access. Training is how you start.
Frequently asked questions
- How many people speak Cajun French in the United States?
- An estimated 11,204 people aged 5 and older speak Cajun French at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Cajun French speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 11.3 percent, roughly 1,268 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Cajun French speakers?
- Lafayette, LA, with about 3,355 Cajun French speakers at home.
- Where is Cajun French interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. Lafayette, LA stands out, where about 13.2 percent of Cajun French speakers report speaking English less than "very well."