Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Charleston, SC
About 24,870 people in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC area speak English less than "very well," across 12 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
24,870
Residents with limited English
12
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Charleston, SC
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 | 44,118 ±2K | 20,239 | 45.9% |
| 2 | Tagalog | 3,255 ±709 | 1,311 | 40.3% |
| 3 | Portuguese | 2,071 ±732 | 862 | 41.6% |
| 4 | Vietnamese | 1,470 ±489 | 737 | 50.1% |
| 5 | French | 2,608 ±809 | 404 | — |
| 6 | Chinese (not specified) | 953 ±331 | 397 | — |
| 7 | Korean | 463 ±205 | 199 | — |
| 8 | Italian | 1,123 ±463 | 174 | — |
| 9 | German | 2,431 ±613 | 167 | — |
| 10 | Mandarin Chinese | 360 ±125 | 150 | — |
| 11 | Russian | 472 ±229 | 139 | — |
| 12 | Filipino | 522 ±204 | 91 | — |
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.
Be the interpreter Charleston, SC is waiting for
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Frequently asked questions
- How many people in Charleston, SC have limited English proficiency?
- About 24,870 residents of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 12 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Charleston, SC?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Tagalog, and Portuguese. Spanish leads, with about 20,239 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Charleston, SC?
- Spanish, with about 44,118 speakers at home in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC area.