#95 most spoken · language profile
Kurdish in the United States
An estimated 23,004 people aged 5 and older speak Kurdish at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 39.6% of them, roughly 9,111 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as San Diego, where about 42.8% of Kurdish speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Kurdish is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 53 additional metro areas have Kurdish speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,248 ±826 | not reliable | — |
| 2 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,117 ±780 | not reliable | — |
| 3 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,004 ±747 | not reliable | — |
| 4 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,096 ±490 | 42.8% | 32.6–53% |
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 Kurdish 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 Kurdish in the United States?
- An estimated 23,004 people aged 5 and older speak Kurdish at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Kurdish speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 39.6 percent, roughly 9,111 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Kurdish speakers?
- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, with about 2,248 Kurdish speakers at home.
- Where is Kurdish interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA stands out, where about 42.8 percent of Kurdish speakers report speaking English less than "very well."