Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home

Imperial County had the highest population speaking a language other than English at home of 58 counties in 2023, at 75.1%. Plumas County had the lowest, at 5.5%. The median was 32.7% and the figure for California was 44.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest75.1Imperial County
Lowest5.5Plumas County
Median32.758 counties
California44.1History

Map of counties, 2023

Alameda County: 46.6 %Alpine County: 14.1 %Amador County: 9.9 %Butte County: 16.5 %Calaveras County: 9.4 %Colusa County: 52.8 %Contra Costa County: 37.1 %Del Norte County: 12.3 %El Dorado County: 12.2 %Fresno County: 43.8 %Glenn County: 37.9 %Humboldt County: 10.8 %Imperial County: 75.1 %Inyo County: 15.6 %Kern County: 45.2 %Kings County: 42.1 %Lake County: 18.9 %Lassen County: 18.1 %Los Angeles County: 55.2 %Madera County: 45.8 %Marin County: 23.1 %Mariposa County: 10.8 %Mendocino County: 21.6 %Merced County: 52.9 %Modoc County: 11.6 %Mono County: 22.2 %Monterey County: 55.4 %Napa County: 33.9 %Nevada County: 8.7 %Orange County: 45.9 %Placer County: 16.2 %Plumas County: 5.5 %Riverside County: 41.8 %Sacramento County: 32.8 %San Benito County: 42.4 %San Bernardino County: 43.6 %San Diego County: 36.7 %San Francisco County: 43.4 %San Joaquin County: 42.2 %San Luis Obispo County: 17.2 %San Mateo County: 45.3 %Santa Barbara County: 40 %Santa Clara County: 54.7 %Santa Cruz County: 32.6 %Shasta County: 7.7 %Sierra County: 12.1 %Siskiyou County: 9.7 %Solano County: 30.7 %Sonoma County: 26.8 %Stanislaus County: 43.1 %Sutter County: 36.4 %Tehama County: 20.1 %Trinity County: 9.1 %Tulare County: 50.3 %Tuolumne County: 7.7 %Ventura County: 38.4 %Yolo County: 36.2 %Yuba County: 24.5 %
  • Under 11
  • 11 to 18
  • 18 to 33
  • 33 to 42
  • 42 to 46
  • 46 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2023

Imperial County: 75.1 %Imperial County75.1Monterey County: 55.4 %Monterey County55.4Los Angeles County: 55.2 %Los Angeles County55.2Santa Clara County: 54.7 %Santa Clara County54.7Merced County: 52.9 %Merced County52.9Colusa County: 52.8 %Colusa County52.8Tulare County: 50.3 %Tulare County50.3Alameda County: 46.6 %Alameda County46.6Orange County: 45.9 %Orange County45.9Madera County: 45.8 %Madera County45.8San Mateo County: 45.3 %San Mateo County45.3Kern County: 45.2 %Kern County45.2Fresno County: 43.8 %Fresno County43.8San Bernardino County: 43.6 %San Bernardino County43.6San Francisco County: 43.4 %San Francisco County43.4Stanislaus County: 43.1 %Stanislaus County43.1San Benito County: 42.4 %San Benito County42.4San Joaquin County: 42.2 %San Joaquin County42.2Kings County: 42.1 %Kings County42.1Riverside County: 41.8 %Riverside County41.8Santa Barbara County: 40 %Santa Barbara County40Ventura County: 38.4 %Ventura County38.4Glenn County: 37.9 %Glenn County37.9Contra Costa County: 37.1 %Contra Costa County37.1San Diego County: 36.7 %San Diego County36.7Sutter County: 36.4 %Sutter County36.4Yolo County: 36.2 %Yolo County36.2Napa County: 33.9 %Napa County33.9Sacramento County: 32.8 %Sacramento County32.8Santa Cruz County: 32.6 %Santa Cruz County32.6Solano County: 30.7 %Solano County30.7Sonoma County: 26.8 %Sonoma County26.8Yuba County: 24.5 %Yuba County24.5Marin County: 23.1 %Marin County23.1Mono County: 22.2 %Mono County22.2Mendocino County: 21.6 %Mendocino County21.6Tehama County: 20.1 %Tehama County20.1Lake County: 18.9 %Lake County18.9Lassen County: 18.1 %Lassen County18.1San Luis Obispo County: 17.2 %San Luis Obispo County17.2Butte County: 16.5 %Butte County16.5Placer County: 16.2 %Placer County16.2Inyo County: 15.6 %Inyo County15.6Alpine County: 14.1 %Alpine County14.1Del Norte County: 12.3 %Del Norte County12.3El Dorado County: 12.2 %El Dorado County12.2Sierra County: 12.1 %Sierra County12.1Modoc County: 11.6 %Modoc County11.6Mariposa County: 10.8 %Mariposa County10.8Humboldt County: 10.8 %Humboldt County10.8Amador County: 9.9 %Amador County9.9Siskiyou County: 9.7 %Siskiyou County9.7Calaveras County: 9.4 %Calaveras County9.4Trinity County: 9.1 %Trinity County9.1Nevada County: 8.7 %Nevada County8.7Tuolumne County: 7.7 %Tuolumne County7.7Shasta County: 7.7 %Shasta County7.7Plumas County: 5.5 %Plumas County5.5Imperial County: 75.1 %Imperial County75.1Monterey County: 55.4 %Monterey County55.4Los Angeles County: 55.2 %Los Angeles County55.2Santa Clara County: 54.7 %Santa Clara County54.7Merced County: 52.9 %Merced County52.9Colusa County: 52.8 %Colusa County52.8Tulare County: 50.3 %Tulare County50.3Alameda County: 46.6 %Alameda County46.6Orange County: 45.9 %Orange County45.9Madera County: 45.8 %Madera County45.8San Mateo County: 45.3 %San Mateo County45.3Kern County: 45.2 %Kern County45.2Fresno County: 43.8 %Fresno County43.8San Bernardino County: 43.6 %San Bernardino County43.6San Francisco County: 43.4 %San Francisco County43.4Stanislaus County: 43.1 %Stanislaus County43.1San Benito County: 42.4 %San Benito County42.4San Joaquin County: 42.2 %San Joaquin County42.2Kings County: 42.1 %Kings County42.1Riverside County: 41.8 %Riverside County41.8Santa Barbara County: 40 %Santa Barbara County40Ventura County: 38.4 %Ventura County38.4Glenn County: 37.9 %Glenn County37.9Contra Costa County: 37.1 %Contra Costa County37.1San Diego County: 36.7 %San Diego County36.7Sutter County: 36.4 %Sutter County36.4Yolo County: 36.2 %Yolo County36.2Napa County: 33.9 %Napa County33.9Sacramento County: 32.8 %Sacramento County32.8Santa Cruz County: 32.6 %Santa Cruz County32.6Solano County: 30.7 %Solano County30.7Sonoma County: 26.8 %Sonoma County26.8Yuba County: 24.5 %Yuba County24.5Marin County: 23.1 %Marin County23.1Mono County: 22.2 %Mono County22.2Mendocino County: 21.6 %Mendocino County21.6Tehama County: 20.1 %Tehama County20.1Lake County: 18.9 %Lake County18.9Lassen County: 18.1 %Lassen County18.1San Luis Obispo County: 17.2 %San Luis Obispo County17.2Butte County: 16.5 %Butte County16.5Placer County: 16.2 %Placer County16.2Inyo County: 15.6 %Inyo County15.6Alpine County: 14.1 %Alpine County14.1Del Norte County: 12.3 %Del Norte County12.3El Dorado County: 12.2 %El Dorado County12.2Sierra County: 12.1 %Sierra County12.1Modoc County: 11.6 %Modoc County11.6Mariposa County: 10.8 %Mariposa County10.8Humboldt County: 10.8 %Humboldt County10.8Amador County: 9.9 %Amador County9.9Siskiyou County: 9.7 %Siskiyou County9.7Calaveras County: 9.4 %Calaveras County9.4Trinity County: 9.1 %Trinity County9.1Nevada County: 8.7 %Nevada County8.7Tuolumne County: 7.7 %Tuolumne County7.7Shasta County: 7.7 %Shasta County7.7Plumas County: 5.5 %Plumas County5.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Imperial County75.1+0.5 pts
2Monterey County55.4+0.3 pts
3Los Angeles County55.2-0.4 pts
4Santa Clara County54.7+0.8 pts
5Merced County52.9-0.6 pts
6Colusa County52.8+0.3 pts
7Tulare County50.3-0 pts
8Alameda County46.6+0.7 pts
9Orange County45.9+0.5 pts
10Madera County45.8+0.2 pts
11San Mateo County45.3+0.4 pts
12Kern County45.2+0.3 pts
13Fresno County43.8-0.2 pts
14San Bernardino County43.6+0.2 pts
15San Francisco County43.4+0.5 pts
16Stanislaus County43.1+0.2 pts
17San Benito County42.4+0.6 pts
18San Joaquin County42.2+0.8 pts
19Kings County42.1+1.3 pts
20Riverside County41.8+0.3 pts
21Santa Barbara County40+0.1 pts
22Ventura County38.4+0.4 pts
23Glenn County37.9+1.2 pts
24Contra Costa County37.1+0.8 pts
25San Diego County36.70 pts
26Sutter County36.4+0.8 pts
27Yolo County36.2+0.1 pts
28Napa County33.9+0.1 pts
29Sacramento County32.8+0.1 pts
30Santa Cruz County32.6+0.1 pts
31Solano County30.7+1 pts
32Sonoma County26.8+0.6 pts
33Yuba County24.5-0.6 pts
34Marin County23.1+2 pts
35Mono County22.2-2.8 pts
36Mendocino County21.6+0.7 pts
37Tehama County20.10 pts
38Lake County18.9-0.1 pts
39Lassen County18.1+0.1 pts
40San Luis Obispo County17.2+0.3 pts
41Butte County16.5+0.8 pts
42Placer County16.2+0.2 pts
43Inyo County15.6-0 pts
44Alpine County14.1-4.1 pts
45Del Norte County12.3-0.1 pts
46El Dorado County12.2+0.5 pts
47Sierra County12.1-1.9 pts
48Modoc County11.6+0.2 pts
49Mariposa County10.8+0.3 pts
50Humboldt County10.8-0.1 pts
51Amador County9.9+0.8 pts
52Siskiyou County9.7-0.1 pts
53Calaveras County9.4+1 pts
54Trinity County9.1+1.7 pts
55Nevada County8.7+0.3 pts
56Tuolumne County7.7+0.6 pts
57Shasta County7.7-0.1 pts
58Plumas County5.5-1.5 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of all people aged 5 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Measures the language used at home, not English ability: most people in this group also speak English. Spanish speakers are shown separately in spanish_at_home_share.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/california-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/california-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/california-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/california-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/california-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/california-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest population speaking a language other than English at home?

Imperial County, with 75.1% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population speaking a language other than English at home?

Plumas County, with 5.5% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Population speaking a language other than English at home: other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings