Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Harrisburg, PA
About 21,811 people in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA area speak English less than "very well," across 18 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
21,811
Residents with limited English
18
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Harrisburg, PA
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 | 25,942 ±2K | 10,353 | 39.9% |
| 2 | Nepali | 6,505 ±1K | 4,494 | 69.1% |
| 3 | Arabic | 2,813 ±850 | 1,222 | 43.4% |
| 4 | Vietnamese | 2,051 ±655 | 1,142 | 55.7% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania German | 3,104 ±903 | 784 | 25.3% |
| 6 | Chinese (not specified) | 1,517 ±450 | 603 | 39.8% |
| 7 | Russian | 1,005 ±338 | 351 | — |
| 8 | Urdu | 1,607 ±649 | 332 | — |
| 9 | Telugu | 1,192 ±580 | 302 | — |
| 10 | Hindi | 1,602 ±524 | 301 | — |
| 11 | French | 820 ±379 | 299 | — |
| 12 | Korean | 748 ±346 | 288 | — |
| 13 | Gujarati | 1,854 ±740 | 287 | — |
| 14 | Italian | 876 ±371 | 249 | — |
| 15 | Mandarin Chinese | 573 ±170 | 228 | 39.8% |
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 Harrisburg, PA have limited English proficiency?
- About 21,811 residents of the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 18 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Harrisburg, PA?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Nepali, and Arabic. Spanish leads, with about 10,353 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Harrisburg, PA?
- Spanish, with about 25,942 speakers at home in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA area.