Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Detroit, MI
About 225,144 people in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area speak English less than "very well," across 45 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
225,144
Residents with limited English
45
Languages reported
Arabic
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Detroit, MI
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 | Arabic | 155,565 ±7K | 70,431 | 45.3% |
| 2 | Spanish | 127,665 ±4K | 48,536 | 38% |
| 3 | Bengali | 27,864 ±3K | 14,703 | 52.8% |
| 4 | Chaldean Neo-Aramaic | 23,957 ±3K | 10,206 | 42.6% |
| 5 | Albanian | 21,397 ±3K | 8,261 | 38.6% |
| 6 | Chinese (not specified) | 15,216 ±1K | 7,072 | 46.5% |
| 7 | Japanese | 8,499 ±1K | 4,621 | 54.4% |
| 8 | Korean | 8,748 ±1K | 3,979 | 45.5% |
| 9 | Vietnamese | 7,494 ±1K | 3,880 | 51.8% |
| 10 | Russian | 8,134 ±1K | 3,879 | 47.7% |
| 11 | Ukrainian | 6,020 ±2K | 3,299 | 54.8% |
| 12 | Polish | 11,404 ±2K | 3,175 | 27.8% |
| 13 | Italian | 10,542 ±1K | 2,863 | 27.2% |
| 14 | Urdu | 11,854 ±2K | 2,696 | 22.7% |
| 15 | Mandarin Chinese | 5,743 ±520 | 2,669 | 46.5% |
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 Detroit, MI have limited English proficiency?
- About 225,144 residents of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 45 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Detroit, MI?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Arabic, Spanish, and Bengali. Arabic leads, with about 70,431 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Detroit, MI?
- Arabic, with about 155,565 speakers at home in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area.