Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Santa Cruz, CA
About 29,183 people in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area speak English less than "very well," across 16 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
29,183
Residents with limited English
16
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Santa Cruz, CA
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 | 66,484 ±2K | 26,361 | 39.7% |
| 2 | Chinese (not specified) | 1,816 ±356 | 671 | 36.9% |
| 3 | Japanese | 846 ±389 | 437 | — |
| 4 | Korean | 585 ±238 | 312 | 53.3% |
| 5 | Mandarin Chinese | 686 ±134 | 253 | 36.9% |
| 6 | Tagalog | 458 ±156 | 250 | — |
| 7 | Italian | 936 ±322 | 172 | — |
| 8 | Russian | 756 ±293 | 142 | — |
| 9 | Cantonese | 614 ±210 | 139 | — |
| 10 | Vietnamese | 415 ±145 | 121 | — |
| 11 | German | 1,603 ±442 | 92 | — |
| 12 | Portuguese | 770 ±320 | 88 | — |
| 13 | Hindi | 388 ±184 | 53 | — |
| 14 | Persian | 476 ±177 | 52 | — |
| 15 | French | 1,064 ±342 | 40 | — |
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 Santa Cruz, CA have limited English proficiency?
- About 29,183 residents of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 16 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Santa Cruz, CA?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Chinese (not specified), and Japanese. Spanish leads, with about 26,361 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Santa Cruz, CA?
- Spanish, with about 66,484 speakers at home in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area.