#89 most spoken · language profile
Wolof in the United States
An estimated 26,232 people aged 5 and older speak Wolof at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 29.8% of them, roughly 7,816 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as New York, where about 43.8% of Wolof speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Wolof is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 49 additional metro areas have Wolof speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 5,568 ±1K | 43.8% | 34.5–53.1% |
| 2 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | 2,756 ±972 | not reliable | — |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,842 ±844 | not reliable | — |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,327 ±522 | not reliable | — |
| 5 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,173 ±578 | 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 Wolof 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 Wolof in the United States?
- An estimated 26,232 people aged 5 and older speak Wolof at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Wolof speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 29.8 percent, roughly 7,816 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Wolof speakers?
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, with about 5,568 Wolof speakers at home.
- Where is Wolof interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA stands out, where about 43.8 percent of Wolof speakers report speaking English less than "very well."