Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Buffalo, NY
About 35,044 people in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY area speak English less than "very well," across 24 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
35,044
Residents with limited English
24
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Buffalo, NY
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 | 33,430 ±2K | 10,702 | 32% |
| 2 | Bengali | 11,686 ±1K | 6,162 | 52.7% |
| 3 | Arabic | 11,143 ±2K | 3,870 | 34.7% |
| 4 | Chinese (not specified) | 3,879 ±735 | 1,877 | 48.4% |
| 5 | Burmese | 2,408 ±939 | 1,424 | 59.1% |
| 6 | Karen languages | 2,017 ±771 | 1,260 | 62.5% |
| 7 | Russian | 3,256 ±964 | 1,162 | 35.7% |
| 8 | Italian | 3,370 ±508 | 1,133 | 33.6% |
| 9 | Vietnamese | 1,653 ±507 | 950 | 57.5% |
| 10 | Nepali | 1,432 ±600 | 915 | 63.9% |
| 11 | French | 4,186 ±956 | 719 | 17.2% |
| 12 | Mandarin Chinese | 1,464 ±277 | 708 | 48.4% |
| 13 | Urdu | 1,714 ±552 | 680 | 39.7% |
| 14 | Korean | 1,430 ±467 | 571 | — |
| 15 | Polish | 3,043 ±624 | 524 | 17.2% |
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 Buffalo, NY have limited English proficiency?
- About 35,044 residents of the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 24 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Buffalo, NY?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Bengali, and Arabic. Spanish leads, with about 10,702 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Buffalo, NY?
- Spanish, with about 33,430 speakers at home in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY area.