#105 most spoken · language profile
Chuukese in the United States
An estimated 16,868 people aged 5 and older speak Chuukese at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 52.6% of them, roughly 8,867 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as Iowa City, where about 100% of Chuukese speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Chuukese is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 28 additional metro areas have Chuukese speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,344 ±521 | not reliable | — |
| 2 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 890 ±372 | 39% | 26.5–51.5% |
| 3 | Iowa City, IA | 603 ±296 | 100% | 100–100% |
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 Chuukese 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 Chuukese in the United States?
- An estimated 16,868 people aged 5 and older speak Chuukese at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Chuukese speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 52.6 percent, roughly 8,867 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Chuukese speakers?
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, with about 1,344 Chuukese speakers at home.
- Where is Chuukese interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. Iowa City, IA stands out, where about 100 percent of Chuukese speakers report speaking English less than "very well."