Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Kansas City, MO-KS
About 78,251 people in the Kansas City, MO-KS area speak English less than "very well," across 31 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
78,251
Residents with limited English
31
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Kansas City, MO-KS
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 | 139,626 ±4K | 54,666 | 39.2% |
| 2 | Vietnamese | 5,312 ±816 | 2,884 | 54.3% |
| 3 | Chinese (not specified) | 5,388 ±767 | 2,291 | 42.5% |
| 4 | Swahili | 4,332 ±1K | 1,814 | 41.9% |
| 5 | French | 5,377 ±860 | 1,642 | 30.5% |
| 6 | Arabic | 4,999 ±1K | 1,400 | 28% |
| 7 | Burmese | 2,382 ±891 | 1,325 | 55.6% |
| 8 | Amharic | 2,735 ±826 | 1,162 | 42.5% |
| 9 | Russian | 2,655 ±687 | 1,094 | 41.2% |
| 10 | Mandarin Chinese | 2,034 ±290 | 865 | 42.5% |
| 11 | Telugu | 3,979 ±773 | 856 | 21.5% |
| 12 | Korean | 2,883 ±589 | 780 | 27.1% |
| 13 | Thai | 1,074 ±408 | 744 | 69.3% |
| 14 | Hindi | 3,379 ±756 | 713 | 21.1% |
| 15 | Haitian | 1,586 ±567 | 677 | — |
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 Kansas City, MO-KS have limited English proficiency?
- About 78,251 residents of the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 31 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Kansas City, MO-KS?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese (not specified). Spanish leads, with about 54,666 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Kansas City, MO-KS?
- Spanish, with about 139,626 speakers at home in the Kansas City, MO-KS area.