Data / Rankings / Population speaking a language other than English at home / US states

US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024

California had the highest population speaking a language other than English at home of 51 states in 2024, at 44.4%. West Virginia had the lowest, at 2.5%. The median was 12.4% and the figure for the United States was 22.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest44.4California
Lowest2.5West Virginia
Median12.451 states
United States22.3History

Map of states, 2024

Alabama: 6.1 %Alaska: 15.1 %Arizona: 25.7 %Arkansas: 8.3 %California: 44.4 %Colorado: 16.2 %Connecticut: 23.4 %Delaware: 15.1 %District of Columbia: 19.1 %Florida: 30.6 %Georgia: 15.5 %Hawaii: 24.7 %Idaho: 11 %Illinois: 24.1 %Indiana: 10.3 %Iowa: 9.1 %Kansas: 12.1 %Kentucky: 6.8 %Louisiana: 8.5 %Maine: 6 %Maryland: 21.1 %Massachusetts: 25.1 %Michigan: 10.4 %Minnesota: 12.4 %Mississippi: 4.3 %Missouri: 6.7 %Montana: 4.2 %Nebraska: 12.8 %Nevada: 29.5 %New Hampshire: 7.9 %New Jersey: 33.1 %New Mexico: 31.3 %New York: 30.9 %North Carolina: 13.5 %North Dakota: 6.7 %Ohio: 8 %Oklahoma: 11.5 %Oregon: 15.2 %Pennsylvania: 12.4 %Rhode Island: 23.1 %South Carolina: 8.4 %South Dakota: 7.1 %Tennessee: 8.6 %Texas: 35.1 %Utah: 15.9 %Vermont: 5.5 %Virginia: 17.4 %Washington: 21.4 %West Virginia: 2.5 %Wisconsin: 9.1 %Wyoming: 6.9 %
  • Under 6.8
  • 6.8 to 8.9
  • 8.9 to 12
  • 12 to 17
  • 17 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2024

California: 44.4 %California44.4Texas: 35.1 %Texas35.1New Jersey: 33.1 %New Jersey33.1New Mexico: 31.3 %New Mexico31.3New York: 30.9 %New York30.9Florida: 30.6 %Florida30.6Nevada: 29.5 %Nevada29.5Arizona: 25.7 %Arizona25.7Massachusetts: 25.1 %Massachusetts25.1Hawaii: 24.7 %Hawaii24.7Illinois: 24.1 %Illinois24.1Connecticut: 23.4 %Connecticut23.4Rhode Island: 23.1 %Rhode Island23.1Washington: 21.4 %Washington21.4Maryland: 21.1 %Maryland21.1District of Columbia: 19.1 %District of Columbia19.1Virginia: 17.4 %Virginia17.4Colorado: 16.2 %Colorado16.2Utah: 15.9 %Utah15.9Georgia: 15.5 %Georgia15.5Oregon: 15.2 %Oregon15.2Delaware: 15.1 %Delaware15.1Alaska: 15.1 %Alaska15.1North Carolina: 13.5 %North Carolina13.5Nebraska: 12.8 %Nebraska12.8Minnesota: 12.4 %Minnesota12.4Pennsylvania: 12.4 %Pennsylvania12.4Kansas: 12.1 %Kansas12.1Oklahoma: 11.5 %Oklahoma11.5Idaho: 11 %Idaho11Michigan: 10.4 %Michigan10.4Indiana: 10.3 %Indiana10.3Iowa: 9.1 %Iowa9.1Wisconsin: 9.1 %Wisconsin9.1Tennessee: 8.6 %Tennessee8.6Louisiana: 8.5 %Louisiana8.5South Carolina: 8.4 %South Carolina8.4Arkansas: 8.3 %Arkansas8.3Ohio: 8 %Ohio8New Hampshire: 7.9 %New Hampshire7.9South Dakota: 7.1 %South Dakota7.1Wyoming: 6.9 %Wyoming6.9Kentucky: 6.8 %Kentucky6.8North Dakota: 6.7 %North Dakota6.7Missouri: 6.7 %Missouri6.7Alabama: 6.1 %Alabama6.1Maine: 6 %Maine6Vermont: 5.5 %Vermont5.5Mississippi: 4.3 %Mississippi4.3Montana: 4.2 %Montana4.2West Virginia: 2.5 %West Virginia2.5California: 44.4 %California44.4Texas: 35.1 %Texas35.1New Jersey: 33.1 %New Jersey33.1New Mexico: 31.3 %New Mexico31.3New York: 30.9 %New York30.9Florida: 30.6 %Florida30.6Nevada: 29.5 %Nevada29.5Arizona: 25.7 %Arizona25.7Massachusetts: 25.1 %Massachusetts25.1Hawaii: 24.7 %Hawaii24.7Illinois: 24.1 %Illinois24.1Connecticut: 23.4 %Connecticut23.4Rhode Island: 23.1 %Rhode Island23.1Washington: 21.4 %Washington21.4Maryland: 21.1 %Maryland21.1District of Columbia: 19.1 %District of Columbia19.1Virginia: 17.4 %Virginia17.4Colorado: 16.2 %Colorado16.2Utah: 15.9 %Utah15.9Georgia: 15.5 %Georgia15.5Oregon: 15.2 %Oregon15.2Delaware: 15.1 %Delaware15.1Alaska: 15.1 %Alaska15.1North Carolina: 13.5 %North Carolina13.5Nebraska: 12.8 %Nebraska12.8Minnesota: 12.4 %Minnesota12.4Pennsylvania: 12.4 %Pennsylvania12.4Kansas: 12.1 %Kansas12.1Oklahoma: 11.5 %Oklahoma11.5Idaho: 11 %Idaho11Michigan: 10.4 %Michigan10.4Indiana: 10.3 %Indiana10.3Iowa: 9.1 %Iowa9.1Wisconsin: 9.1 %Wisconsin9.1Tennessee: 8.6 %Tennessee8.6Louisiana: 8.5 %Louisiana8.5South Carolina: 8.4 %South Carolina8.4Arkansas: 8.3 %Arkansas8.3Ohio: 8 %Ohio8New Hampshire: 7.9 %New Hampshire7.9South Dakota: 7.1 %South Dakota7.1Wyoming: 6.9 %Wyoming6.9Kentucky: 6.8 %Kentucky6.8North Dakota: 6.7 %North Dakota6.7Missouri: 6.7 %Missouri6.7Alabama: 6.1 %Alabama6.1Maine: 6 %Maine6Vermont: 5.5 %Vermont5.5Mississippi: 4.3 %Mississippi4.3Montana: 4.2 %Montana4.2West Virginia: 2.5 %West Virginia2.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2024 (%)Change on 2023
1California44.4+0.3 pts
2Texas35.1+0.2 pts
3New Jersey33.1+0.5 pts
4New Mexico31.3-0.3 pts
5New York30.9+0.2 pts
6Florida30.6+0.5 pts
7Nevada29.5+0.2 pts
8Arizona25.7+0.1 pts
9Massachusetts25.1+0.3 pts
10Hawaii24.7-0.4 pts
11Illinois24.1+0.3 pts
12Connecticut23.4+0.4 pts
13Rhode Island23.1+0.4 pts
14Washington21.4+0.4 pts
15Maryland21.1+0.4 pts
16District of Columbia19.1+1.1 pts
17Virginia17.4+0.3 pts
18Colorado16.2+0.1 pts
19Utah15.9+0.3 pts
20Georgia15.5+0.4 pts
21Oregon15.2+0.1 pts
22Delaware15.1+0.4 pts
23Alaska15.1-0.5 pts
24North Carolina13.5+0.4 pts
25Nebraska12.8+0.5 pts
26Minnesota12.4+0.2 pts
27Pennsylvania12.4+0.3 pts
28Kansas12.10 pts
29Oklahoma11.5+0.2 pts
30Idaho11+0.3 pts
31Michigan10.4+0.3 pts
32Indiana10.3+0.5 pts
33Iowa9.1+0.2 pts
34Wisconsin9.1+0.2 pts
35Tennessee8.6+0.3 pts
36Louisiana8.5+0.2 pts
37South Carolina8.4+0.2 pts
38Arkansas8.3+0.2 pts
39Ohio8+0.3 pts
40New Hampshire7.9-0.1 pts
41South Dakota7.1+0.4 pts
42Wyoming6.90 pts
43Kentucky6.8+0.4 pts
44North Dakota6.7+0.4 pts
45Missouri6.7+0.2 pts
46Alabama6.1+0.2 pts
47Maine6+0.1 pts
48Vermont5.50 pts
49Mississippi4.3+0.1 pts
50Montana4.20 pts
51West Virginia2.50 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 states 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/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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 (US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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, US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-c16001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/us-states. 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. US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-c16001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/us-states.

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, US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-c16001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/us-states (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_population_2024,
  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: US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-c16001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/us-states. 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/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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: US states by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-c16001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/us-states
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/us-states.
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/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

California, with 44.4% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

West Virginia, with 2.5% in 2024.

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

US states: more rankings