Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Knoxville, TN
About 21,243 people in the Knoxville, TN area speak English less than "very well," across 13 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
21,243
Residents with limited English
13
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Knoxville, TN
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 | 34,381 ±2K | 15,295 | 44.5% |
| 2 | Arabic | 3,667 ±1K | 1,274 | 34.7% |
| 3 | Chinese (not specified) | 2,010 ±449 | 951 | 47.3% |
| 4 | Swahili | 1,262 ±579 | 726 | — |
| 5 | Vietnamese | 1,200 ±438 | 601 | 50.1% |
| 6 | German | 2,539 ±854 | 555 | — |
| 7 | Korean | 1,050 ±381 | 547 | 52.1% |
| 8 | Russian | 918 ±312 | 408 | — |
| 9 | Mandarin Chinese | 758 ±169 | 359 | 47.3% |
| 10 | Japanese | 536 ±229 | 236 | — |
| 11 | Tagalog | 935 ±264 | 213 | 22.8% |
| 12 | French | 1,564 ±645 | 78 | — |
| 13 | Portuguese | 540 ±255 | 0 | — |
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 Knoxville, TN have limited English proficiency?
- About 21,243 residents of the Knoxville, TN metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 13 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Knoxville, TN?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese (not specified). Spanish leads, with about 15,295 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Knoxville, TN?
- Spanish, with about 34,381 speakers at home in the Knoxville, TN area.