#86 most spoken · language profile
Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. in the United States
An estimated 29,244 people aged 5 and older speak Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 36.3% of them, roughly 10,606 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as Waterloo, where about 100% of Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 74 additional metro areas have Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,083 ±800 | 34.8% | 25.2–44.4% |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 1,610 ±471 | not reliable | — |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,352 ±479 | not reliable | — |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,101 ±442 | not reliable | — |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 816 ±302 | not reliable | — |
| 6 | Bowling Green, KY | 672 ±238 | not reliable | — |
| 7 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 629 ±286 | 100% | 100–100% |
| 8 | Joplin, MO | 617 ±134 | 59.2% | 43.1–75.3% |
| 9 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 248 ±72 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many people speak Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. in the United States?
- An estimated 29,244 people aged 5 and older speak Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 36.3 percent, roughly 10,606 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. speakers?
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, with about 3,083 Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. speakers at home.
- Where is Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA stands out, where about 100 percent of Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages N.E.C. speakers report speaking English less than "very well."