Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Raleigh, NC
About 85,000 people in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area speak English less than "very well," across 30 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
85,000
Residents with limited English
30
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Raleigh, NC
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 | 143,176 ±3K | 56,403 | 39.4% |
| 2 | Chinese (not specified) | 8,784 ±1K | 3,840 | 43.7% |
| 3 | Arabic | 10,559 ±2K | 2,806 | 26.6% |
| 4 | Vietnamese | 4,858 ±1K | 2,587 | 53.3% |
| 5 | Telugu | 10,265 ±2K | 1,977 | 19.3% |
| 6 | Korean | 4,199 ±783 | 1,920 | 45.7% |
| 7 | French | 7,048 ±1K | 1,831 | 26% |
| 8 | Gujarati | 5,467 ±1K | 1,734 | 31.7% |
| 9 | Hindi | 9,152 ±1K | 1,514 | 16.5% |
| 10 | Mandarin Chinese | 3,315 ±441 | 1,449 | 43.7% |
| 11 | Russian | 4,243 ±864 | 1,107 | 26.1% |
| 12 | Japanese | 2,026 ±528 | 966 | 47.7% |
| 13 | Tamil | 5,334 ±1K | 872 | 16.3% |
| 14 | Tagalog | 2,325 ±709 | 719 | — |
| 15 | Marathi | 3,712 ±1K | 695 | — |
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 Raleigh, NC have limited English proficiency?
- About 85,000 residents of the Raleigh-Cary, NC 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 Raleigh, NC?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Chinese (not specified), and Arabic. Spanish leads, with about 56,403 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Raleigh, NC?
- Spanish, with about 143,176 speakers at home in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area.