Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Grand Rapids, MI
About 38,756 people in the Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI area speak English less than "very well," across 19 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
38,756
Residents with limited English
19
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Grand Rapids, 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 | Spanish | 65,156 ±3K | 24,485 | 37.6% |
| 2 | Vietnamese | 5,009 ±1K | 3,391 | 67.7% |
| 3 | Korean | 1,990 ±724 | 1,340 | 67.3% |
| 4 | Swahili | 1,893 ±889 | 1,266 | — |
| 5 | Chinese (not specified) | 2,551 ±776 | 1,225 | 48% |
| 6 | Arabic | 2,368 ±947 | 923 | — |
| 7 | Pennsylvania German | 2,066 ±724 | 916 | 44.3% |
| 8 | Khmer (Cambodian) | 1,245 ±556 | 905 | — |
| 9 | Bosnian | 1,699 ±634 | 866 | — |
| 10 | French | 2,548 ±805 | 768 | — |
| 11 | Lao | 1,330 ±615 | 581 | 43.7% |
| 12 | Mandarin Chinese | 963 ±293 | 462 | 48% |
| 13 | German | 2,436 ±514 | 455 | 18.7% |
| 14 | Portuguese | 611 ±301 | 354 | — |
| 15 | Dutch | 2,107 ±581 | 307 | 14.6% |
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 Grand Rapids, MI have limited English proficiency?
- About 38,756 residents of the Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 19 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Grand Rapids, MI?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. Spanish leads, with about 24,485 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Grand Rapids, MI?
- Spanish, with about 65,156 speakers at home in the Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI area.