Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Chicago, IL-IN-WI
About 999,077 people in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI area speak English less than "very well," across 77 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
Languages by interpreter demand in Chicago, IL-IN-WI
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 | 1,601,188 ±10K | 624,403 | 39% |
| 2 | Polish | 161,121 ±6K | 68,742 | 42.7% |
| 3 | Chinese (not specified) | 55,844 ±3K | 26,305 | 47.1% |
| 4 | Arabic | 66,512 ±5K | 20,361 | 30.6% |
| 5 | Gujarati | 47,658 ±4K | 18,810 | 39.5% |
| 6 | Korean | 35,732 ±3K | 17,709 | 49.6% |
| 7 | Russian | 43,410 ±3K | 17,665 | 40.7% |
| 8 | Ukrainian | 29,997 ±3K | 17,572 | 58.6% |
| 9 | Urdu | 57,999 ±4K | 14,986 | 25.8% |
| 10 | Tagalog | 57,778 ±4K | 14,635 | 25.3% |
| 11 | Vietnamese | 20,328 ±2K | 10,456 | 51.4% |
| 12 | Mandarin Chinese | 21,076 ±1K | 9,928 | 47.1% |
| 13 | Cantonese | 14,462 ±2K | 8,826 | 61% |
| 14 | Hindi | 40,951 ±3K | 6,669 | 16.3% |
| 15 | Romanian | 20,284 ±2K | 6,669 | 32.9% |
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 Chicago, IL-IN-WI have limited English proficiency?
- About 999,077 residents of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 77 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Chicago, IL-IN-WI?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Polish, and Chinese (not specified). Spanish leads, with about 624,403 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Chicago, IL-IN-WI?
- Spanish, with about 1,601,188 speakers at home in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI area.