Top 10 Most Spoken Languages in the U.S. & Their Percentages

The United States is a melting pot of cultures, reflected in the diverse languages spoken across the country. While English is the predominant language, millions of Americans speak Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and more. Discover the top 10 most spoken languages in the U.S. and the percentage of the population that speaks each one.

In the United States, a diverse range of languages is spoken due to its multicultural population. Here are the most spoken languages:

1. English: The most widely spoken language, serving as the de facto national language.
2. Spanish: The second most common language, widely spoken by Hispanic and Latino communities.
3. Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese): The most spoken Asian language, especially in urban areas.
4. Tagalog: Spoken by the Filipino community, especially in states like California and Nevada.
5. Vietnamese: Commonly spoken among the Vietnamese-American community, particularly in Texas and California.
6. Arabic: Increasingly spoken due to growing immigrant populations from the Middle East and North Africa.
7. French: Spoken by communities in Louisiana, parts of New England, and by Haitian immigrants.
8. Korean: Spoken by the Korean-American community, especially in California and New York.
9. Russian: Spoken by Russian immigrants, particularly in New York and other major cities.
10. German: While less common now, German was historically spoken by many communities and still has some presence, especially in the Midwest.

These languages reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population.

Percentage Breakdown of Languages in the United States

Here are the approximate percentages of the most spoken languages in the United States based on U.S. Census Bureau data and other language studies:

1. English: ~78% of the population speaks only English at home.
2. Spanish: ~13% of the population speaks Spanish at home.
3. Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese): ~1.1% of the population.
4. Tagalog: ~0.6% of the population.
5. Vietnamese: ~0.5% of the population.
6. Arabic: ~0.5% of the population.
7. French: ~0.4% of the population.
8. Korean: ~0.4% of the population.
9. Russian: ~0.3% of the population.
10. German: ~0.3% of the population.

These percentages can vary slightly depending on the source and the year of the data, but they provide a good overview of the linguistic diversity in the U.S.

Breakdown by State

A breakdown of the most spoken languages by state can provide a detailed view of how linguistic diversity varies across the United States. Here’s an overview of the most spoken languages in a few key states:

California

1. English: Predominant language.
2. Spanish: Spoken by a large portion of the population due to the state's proximity to Mexico.
3. Chinese: Significant Chinese-speaking population, especially in urban areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
4. Tagalog: Due to a large Filipino community.
5. Vietnamese: Notable presence in cities like San Jose and Orange County.

Texas

1. English: Predominant language.
2. Spanish: Very widely spoken, reflecting the state's large Hispanic population.
3. Vietnamese: Significant presence, especially in Houston.
4. Chinese: Also widely spoken, particularly in larger cities.
5. Tagalog: Growing Filipino population.

New York

1. English: Predominant language.
2. Spanish: Widely spoken, especially in New York City.
3. Chinese: Large Chinese-speaking community in areas like Chinatown.
4. Russian: Especially in neighborhoods like Brighton Beach.
5. French Creole: Spoken by Haitian communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

Florida

1. English: Predominant language.
2. Spanish: Very common, especially in Miami due to the Cuban population.
3. Haitian Creole: Spoken by the large Haitian community.
4. Portuguese: Growing Brazilian population, particularly in South Florida.
5. French: Spoken by Haitian and other French-speaking communities.

Illinois

1. English: Predominant language.
2. Spanish: Widely spoken, especially in Chicago.
3. Polish: Chicago has one of the largest Polish-speaking populations outside of Poland.
4. Tagalog: Growing Filipino community.
5. Arabic: Significant Arabic-speaking population in the Chicago area.

Washington

1. English: Predominant language.
2. Spanish: Significant Spanish-speaking population.
3. Chinese: Spoken by a growing Asian community.
4. Tagalog: Due to the Filipino population.
5. Vietnamese: Significant presence, especially in the Seattle area.

The data regarding the most spoken languages in the United States, including breakdowns by state, is derived from the following sources:

1. U.S. Census Bureau: The American Community Survey (ACS) provides detailed information on language use and linguistic diversity across the U.S.
2. Modern Language Association (MLA) Language Map: Offers detailed maps and data on the languages spoken in the U.S. at the state and county levels.
3. Pew Research Center: Provides insights and reports on demographic trends, including language use among different ethnic and immigrant communities.
4. Migration Policy Institute: Publishes studies and reports on the languages spoken by immigrant populations in the U.S.
5. State and Local Government Data: Some states and cities publish their own reports on language use, especially in areas with significant linguistic diversity.

These sources offer comprehensive and reliable data on language use across the United States.