Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Minneapolis, MN-WI
About 197,261 people in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI area speak English less than "very well," across 53 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
Languages by interpreter demand in Minneapolis, MN-WI
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 | 169,440 ±5K | 69,380 | 40.9% |
| 2 | Hmong | 67,878 ±4K | 28,286 | 41.7% |
| 3 | Somali | 52,532 ±6K | 18,432 | 35.1% |
| 4 | Karen languages | 12,049 ±3K | 9,310 | 77.3% |
| 5 | Vietnamese | 17,026 ±2K | 8,721 | 51.2% |
| 6 | Chinese (not specified) | 13,736 ±2K | 6,514 | 47.4% |
| 7 | Amharic | 11,776 ±3K | 4,683 | 39.8% |
| 8 | Oromo | 12,256 ±3K | 4,541 | 37.1% |
| 9 | Russian | 10,286 ±2K | 4,043 | 39.3% |
| 10 | French | 13,005 ±2K | 3,593 | 27.6% |
| 11 | Arabic | 10,592 ±2K | 3,412 | 32.2% |
| 12 | Swahili | 7,584 ±2K | 2,674 | 35.3% |
| 13 | Mandarin Chinese | 5,184 ±639 | 2,458 | 47.4% |
| 14 | Khmer (Cambodian) | 4,800 ±1K | 2,443 | 50.9% |
| 15 | Lao | 5,023 ±1K | 2,259 | 45% |
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 Minneapolis, MN-WI have limited English proficiency?
- About 197,261 residents of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 53 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Minneapolis, MN-WI?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. Spanish leads, with about 69,380 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Minneapolis, MN-WI?
- Spanish, with about 169,440 speakers at home in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI area.