Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Richmond, VA
About 53,470 people in the Richmond, VA area speak English less than "very well," across 28 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
53,470
Residents with limited English
28
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Richmond, VA
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 | 80,020 ±3K | 34,389 | 43% |
| 2 | Vietnamese | 4,285 ±918 | 2,646 | 61.8% |
| 3 | Arabic | 7,659 ±1K | 2,075 | 27.1% |
| 4 | Chinese (not specified) | 4,017 ±791 | 2,068 | 51.5% |
| 5 | Korean | 3,779 ±938 | 1,539 | 40.7% |
| 6 | Portuguese | 2,512 ±773 | 916 | — |
| 7 | Nepali | 1,456 ±682 | 892 | — |
| 8 | French | 4,376 ±1K | 783 | 17.9% |
| 9 | Mandarin Chinese | 1,516 ±298 | 780 | 51.5% |
| 10 | Telugu | 3,323 ±849 | 770 | 23.2% |
| 11 | Khmer (Cambodian) | 946 ±346 | 650 | 68.7% |
| 12 | Urdu | 2,535 ±764 | 578 | 22.8% |
| 13 | Hindi | 4,064 ±927 | 553 | 13.6% |
| 14 | German | 3,903 ±750 | 527 | 13.5% |
| 15 | Russian | 1,786 ±523 | 524 | — |
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 Richmond, VA have limited English proficiency?
- About 53,470 residents of the Richmond, VA metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 28 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Richmond, VA?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic. Spanish leads, with about 34,389 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Richmond, VA?
- Spanish, with about 80,020 speakers at home in the Richmond, VA area.