Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Des Moines, IA
About 29,016 people in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area speak English less than "very well," across 12 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
29,016
Residents with limited English
12
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Des Moines, IA
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 | 39,140 ±3K | 15,461 | 39.5% |
| 2 | Karen languages | 3,218 ±1K | 2,509 | 78% |
| 3 | Vietnamese | 3,872 ±916 | 2,464 | 63.6% |
| 4 | Bosnian | 5,111 ±1K | 2,132 | 41.7% |
| 5 | Swahili | 2,334 ±1K | 1,486 | — |
| 6 | Arabic | 3,856 ±1K | 1,405 | — |
| 7 | Lao | 2,010 ±548 | 1,145 | 57% |
| 8 | Nepali | 2,273 ±927 | 1,005 | 44.2% |
| 9 | French | 1,822 ±629 | 557 | — |
| 10 | Chinese (not specified) | 1,072 ±394 | 506 | — |
| 11 | Mandarin Chinese | 404 ±149 | 191 | — |
| 12 | German | 780 ±282 | 155 | — |
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 Des Moines, IA have limited English proficiency?
- About 29,016 residents of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 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 Des Moines, IA?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Karen languages, and Vietnamese. Spanish leads, with about 15,461 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Des Moines, IA?
- Spanish, with about 39,140 speakers at home in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area.