#113 most spoken · language profile
Swiss German in the United States
An estimated 13,697 people aged 5 and older speak Swiss German at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 26.9% of them, roughly 3,684 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as Fort Wayne, where about 42.7% of Swiss German speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Swiss German is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 55 additional metro areas have Swiss German speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | 2,812 ±923 | 42.7% | 31.4–54% |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 1,021 ±333 | not reliable | — |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 470 ±201 | not reliable | — |
| 4 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 389 ±179 | not reliable | — |
| 5 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 238 ±112 | not reliable | — |
Limited English means speaking English less than "very well." Margins of error are at the 90 percent confidence level. "Range" is the 90 percent confidence interval for the limited-English share.
Help Swiss German speakers be understood
Every dot on this map is a person who deserves to be understood. Medical, legal, and community interpreters turn that need into access. Training is how you start.
Frequently asked questions
- How many people speak Swiss German in the United States?
- An estimated 13,697 people aged 5 and older speak Swiss German at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Swiss German speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 26.9 percent, roughly 3,684 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Swiss German speakers?
- Fort Wayne, IN, with about 2,812 Swiss German speakers at home.
- Where is Swiss German interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. Fort Wayne, IN stands out, where about 42.7 percent of Swiss German speakers report speaking English less than "very well."