#102 most spoken · language profile
Kpelle in the United States
An estimated 17,400 people aged 5 and older speak Kpelle at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 34.1% of them, roughly 5,941 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as New York, where about 33% of Kpelle speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Kpelle is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 39 additional metro areas have Kpelle speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 6,697 ±2K | 33% | 25–41% |
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 Kpelle speakers be understood
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Frequently asked questions
- How many people speak Kpelle in the United States?
- An estimated 17,400 people aged 5 and older speak Kpelle at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Kpelle speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 34.1 percent, roughly 5,941 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Kpelle speakers?
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, with about 6,697 Kpelle speakers at home.
- Where is Kpelle interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA stands out, where about 33 percent of Kpelle speakers report speaking English less than "very well."