Most Americans Speak Only English at Home or Speak English “Very Well”

Over three-quarters (78.3%) of the nation age 5 and older spoke only English at home, according to newly released 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS), 5-year estimates. This is a decrease from 78.7% in 2013-2017, the most recent nonoverlapping five-year period. Among those that spoke a language other than English in 2018-2022, Spanish (61.1%), Chinese (which includes all dialects) (5.1%), and Tagalog (including Filipino) (2.5%) were the three most spoken languages at home. Among the population age 5 and older that spoke a language other than English at home, 61.0% of Spanish speakers, 48.2% of Chinese speakers (which includes all dialects), and 69.8% of Tagalog (including Filipino) speakers spoke English “very well.”

“English remains the most commonly spoken language,” said Adrienne Griffiths, survey statistician in the Education and Social Stratification Branch. “Across most age groups, the majority of the population who spoke a language other than English at home still spoke English very well.”

Among specific age groups that spoke a language other than English at home:

• In 2018-2022, 70.0% of those ages 5-17 spoke Spanish. Of these Spanish speakers, 79.8% spoke English “very well.” In comparison, in 2013-2017, 72.0% of those ages 5-17 spoke Spanish, and 80.3% of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”
• In 2018-2022, 61.0% of those ages 18-64 spoke Spanish. Of these Spanish speakers, 58.3% spoke English “very well.” In comparison, in 2013-2017, 61.6% of those ages 18-64 spoke Spanish, and 54.8% of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”
• In 2018-2022, 49.0% of those age 65 and older spoke Spanish. Of these Spanish speakers, 41.6% spoke English “very well.” In comparison, in 2013-2017, 47.3% of those age 65 and older spoke Spanish, and 38.0% of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”

Additional estimates from the 2018-2022 ACS were also released today and are available for all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, all congressional districts and metropolitan statistical areas, counties, places, census tracts, ZIP code tabulation areas, and block groups.

Highlights:

• The overall U.S. poverty rate for the 2018-2022 period was 12.5%, down from 14.6% from 2013-2017, the most recent nonoverlapping five-year period. Poverty rates decreased in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico compared to 2013-2017.
• Poverty rates decreased in 1,042 counties and county equivalents, and increased in 102 counties from 2013-2017 to 2018-2022.
• Poverty rates for children under age 18 declined in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico between the two five-year periods. Poverty rates among those age 65 and over increased in 36 states and decreased in two states (Delaware and Idaho) and Puerto Rico.
• From 2013-2017 to 2018-2022, child poverty rates decreased in 936 counties and increased in 91 counties; poverty rates for those age 65 and older increased in 459 counties and decreased in 173 counties.

• During the 2018-2022 period, there were an estimated 45.3 million foreign-born people in the United States; 13.7% of the nation’s total population.
• The foreign-born population rose by more than 5 million between the 2008-2012 (39.8 million) and 2018-2022 periods.
• The Foreign-born made up over a fifth of the state population in California (26.5%), New Jersey (23.2%), New York (22.6%) and Florida (21.1%) in 2018-2022.
• Florida, Texas, California and New Jersey had the largest numeric increases in the foreign-born population between 2008-2012 and 2018-2022.
• Almost half (49.1%) of all foreign-born people entered the United States before 2000, and more than half of all foreign-born people (52.3%) were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2018-2022.
• During the 2018-2022 period, an 18.7% share of the foreign-born population 25 years and older had a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree and 14.9% had a graduate or professional degree, compared to 21.4% and 13.1% of the native-born population 25 years and older.
• Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) of the foreign-born population 16 years and older were employed in the civilian labor force, and more than a third of the foreign-born U.S. civilian employed population (16 years and older) worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2018-2022.

The Census Bureau is set to release ACS, 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files and Variance Replicate Estimate (VRE) tables on January 25, 2024.

To view the complete release schedule, visit the data year 2022 release schedule. For more information on ACS topics, visit the Subjects Included in the Survey. To access the full set of statistics released today, visit data.census.gov.

Statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. All comparisons in the highlights have been tested and found to be statistically significant at the 90% confidence level, unless otherwise noted. Consult the tables on data.census.gov for specific margins of error. For more information on using margins of error, visit the Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy.

Year-to-year changes in survey design can affect results. For more information on changes affecting the 2022 statistics, refer to our user notes.

These statistics would not be possible without the participation of ACS respondents throughout the country.