#65 most spoken · language profile
Karen languages in the United States
An estimated 56,366 people aged 5 and older speak Karen languages at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 69.9% of them, roughly 39,395 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as Des Moines, where about 78% of Karen languages speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Karen languages is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 72 additional metro areas have Karen languages speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 12,049 ±3K | 77.3% | 70.8–83.7% |
| 2 | Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 4,472 ±1K | 73.4% | 65.3–81.5% |
| 3 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 3,218 ±1K | 78% | 66.3–89.7% |
| 4 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,017 ±771 | 62.5% | 49.1–75.9% |
| 5 | Utica-Rome, NY | 1,911 ±725 | 57.5% | 46.2–68.8% |
| 6 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,713 ±822 | not reliable | — |
| 7 | Syracuse, NY | 1,117 ±451 | 56.2% | 40.8–71.6% |
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 Karen languages 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 Karen languages in the United States?
- An estimated 56,366 people aged 5 and older speak Karen languages at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Karen languages speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 69.9 percent, roughly 39,395 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Karen languages speakers?
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, with about 12,049 Karen languages speakers at home.
- Where is Karen languages interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA stands out, where about 78 percent of Karen languages speakers report speaking English less than "very well."