Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Nashville, TN
About 107,043 people in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN area speak English less than "very well," across 30 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
Languages by interpreter demand in Nashville, 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 | 146,328 ±4K | 78,372 | 53.6% |
| 2 | Arabic | 21,019 ±4K | 11,077 | 52.7% |
| 3 | Vietnamese | 4,335 ±945 | 2,344 | 54.1% |
| 4 | Chinese (not specified) | 4,362 ±874 | 1,882 | 43.2% |
| 5 | Lao | 4,451 ±879 | 1,847 | 41.5% |
| 6 | French | 4,767 ±908 | 1,229 | 25.8% |
| 7 | Korean | 3,114 ±693 | 1,227 | 39.4% |
| 8 | Amharic | 2,873 ±1K | 1,178 | — |
| 9 | Kurdish | 2,248 ±826 | 868 | — |
| 10 | Swahili | 2,158 ±1K | 787 | — |
| 11 | Gujarati | 2,355 ±607 | 773 | 32.8% |
| 12 | Mandarin Chinese | 1,646 ±330 | 710 | 43.2% |
| 13 | Tagalog | 2,490 ±683 | 608 | — |
| 14 | Thai | 886 ±401 | 450 | — |
| 15 | Japanese | 1,502 ±428 | 411 | 27.4% |
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 Nashville, TN have limited English proficiency?
- About 107,043 residents of the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 30 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Nashville, TN?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese. Spanish leads, with about 78,372 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Nashville, TN?
- Spanish, with about 146,328 speakers at home in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN area.