Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Santa Maria, CA
About 68,126 people in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area speak English less than "very well," across 20 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
68,126
Residents with limited English
20
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
Languages by interpreter demand in Santa Maria, 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 | 138,193 ±3K | 59,612 | 43.1% |
| 2 | Zapotec | 3,218 ±1K | 2,422 | 75.3% |
| 3 | Chinese (not specified) | 3,433 ±586 | 1,292 | 37.6% |
| 4 | Tagalog | 3,060 ±575 | 1,023 | 33.4% |
| 5 | Vietnamese | 1,903 ±564 | 864 | 45.4% |
| 6 | Korean | 1,266 ±377 | 488 | 38.5% |
| 7 | Mandarin Chinese | 1,296 ±221 | 487 | 37.6% |
| 8 | Japanese | 974 ±343 | 290 | 29.8% |
| 9 | Arabic | 895 ±416 | 290 | — |
| 10 | Persian | 764 ±309 | 247 | — |
| 11 | German | 1,585 ±322 | 237 | — |
| 12 | French | 1,834 ±520 | 202 | — |
| 13 | Filipino | 741 ±353 | 202 | — |
| 14 | Cantonese | 910 ±436 | 186 | — |
| 15 | Portuguese | 503 ±182 | 82 | — |
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 Maria, CA have limited English proficiency?
- About 68,126 residents of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 20 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Santa Maria, CA?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Zapotec, and Chinese (not specified). Spanish leads, with about 59,612 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Santa Maria, CA?
- Spanish, with about 138,193 speakers at home in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area.