Metro language profile
Languages spoken in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
About 686,347 people in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area speak English less than "very well," across 84 languages. These tables show which languages those residents speak and where interpreter demand is highest.
Languages by interpreter demand in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 | 860,278 ±6K | 385,535 | 44.8% |
| 2 | Korean | 64,775 ±4K | 31,108 | 48% |
| 3 | Vietnamese | 52,786 ±3K | 28,700 | 54.4% |
| 4 | Amharic | 67,113 ±5K | 25,156 | 37.5% |
| 5 | Chinese (not specified) | 59,371 ±3K | 24,640 | 41.5% |
| 6 | French | 70,576 ±4K | 17,638 | 25% |
| 7 | Arabic | 57,444 ±4K | 14,606 | 25.4% |
| 8 | Persian | 34,420 ±2K | 11,380 | 33.1% |
| 9 | Urdu | 41,375 ±3K | 11,044 | 26.7% |
| 10 | Mandarin Chinese | 22,407 ±944 | 9,299 | 41.5% |
| 11 | Tagalog | 33,304 ±2K | 8,262 | 24.8% |
| 12 | Bengali | 22,411 ±2K | 7,512 | 33.5% |
| 13 | Russian | 24,194 ±2K | 6,216 | 25.7% |
| 14 | Portuguese | 19,281 ±2K | 6,085 | 31.6% |
| 15 | Nepali | 13,214 ±2K | 5,613 | 42.5% |
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 Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV have limited English proficiency?
- About 686,347 residents of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area speak English less than "very well," across the 84 languages reported there. They are the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which languages have the highest interpreter demand in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV?
- By number of residents with limited English proficiency, the top languages are Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese. Spanish leads, with about 385,535 people who speak English less than "very well."
- What is the most spoken language other than English in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV?
- Spanish, with about 860,278 speakers at home in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area.