Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Boston, MA-NH
About 487,187 people in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area speak English less than "very well," across 76 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
487,187
Residents with limited English
76
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Boston, MA-NH
Ranked by the number of speakers who report limited English proficiency, the measure of interpreter need.
| # | Language | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English (count) | Limited English (rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | 436,882 ±5K | 196,827 | 45.1% |
| 2 | Portuguese | 117,000 ±6K | 56,963 | 48.7% |
| 3 | Chinese (not specified) | 80,015 ±2K | 36,722 | 45.9% |
| 4 | Haitian | 75,012 ±5K | 33,076 | 44.1% |
| 5 | Vietnamese | 34,157 ±2K | 20,345 | 59.6% |
| 6 | Mandarin Chinese | 30,199 ±892 | 13,859 | 45.9% |
| 7 | Cantonese | 23,874 ±2K | 13,248 | 55.5% |
| 8 | Arabic | 32,779 ±3K | 11,305 | 34.5% |
| 9 | Khmer (Cambodian) | 20,367 ±2K | 10,685 | 52.5% |
| 10 | Russian | 28,705 ±2K | 9,975 | 34.8% |
| 11 | Kabuverdianu | 20,354 ±2K | 9,797 | 48.1% |
| 12 | French | 34,995 ±3K | 6,617 | 18.9% |
| 13 | Korean | 17,101 ±2K | 6,473 | 37.9% |
| 14 | Albanian | 11,416 ±2K | 5,028 | 44% |
| 15 | Italian | 22,349 ±2K | 4,780 | 21.4% |
Limited English means speaking English less than "very well." Counts are the population an interpreter program serves. Margins of error are at the 90 percent confidence level; a rate of "—" means the estimate was suppressed for reliability.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many people in Boston, MA-NH have limited English proficiency?
- About 487,187 residents of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 76 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Boston, MA-NH?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese (not specified). Spanish leads, with about 196,827 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Boston, MA-NH?
- Spanish, with about 436,882 speakers at home in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area.