Metro language profile

Languages spoken in Spokane, WA

About 15,349 people in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA area speak English less than "very well," across 14 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.

15,349
Residents with limited English
14
Languages reported
Spanish
Most spoken besides English
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Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA: 15,349 limited-English speakers
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA highlighted. Each faint dot is another U.S. metro area in the map.

Languages by interpreter demand in Spokane, WA

Ranked by the number of speakers who report limited English proficiency, the measure of interpreter need.

Languages spoken in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, with speakers, limited-English counts, and rates
# Language Speakers (± margin) Limited English (count) Limited English (rate)
1 Spanish 20,889 ±2K 7,208 34.5%
2 Russian 6,360 ±2K 2,604 40.9%
3 Arabic 2,472 ±1K 1,128
4 Vietnamese 1,683 ±497 968 57.5%
5 Ukrainian 1,148 ±431 686 59.8%
6 Marshallese 1,276 ±405 678 53.1%
7 Chinese (not specified) 1,064 ±314 505 47.5%
8 Tagalog 1,268 ±317 345 27.2%
9 French 1,346 ±455 320
10 Japanese 892 ±221 238
11 Korean 412 ±150 203
12 Mandarin Chinese 401 ±119 191 47.5%
13 German 1,562 ±403 172
14 Filipino 218 ±106 103

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 Spokane, WA have limited English proficiency?
About 15,349 residents of the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 14 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Spokane, WA?
By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. Spanish leads, with about 7,208 people who speak English less than "very well."
What is the most spoken language other than English in Spokane, WA?
Spanish, with about 20,889 speakers at home in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA area.