What percentage of the US speaks English?

As an expert in linguistic demographics, I can provide an insightful analysis on the prevalence of English speakers in the United States. The United States is a linguistically diverse country with a rich tapestry of languages spoken by its residents. While English is the primary language, there is a significant number of people who speak other languages at home, according to the United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey. According to the latest data from the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, it is estimated that more than 20 percent of U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home. This figure underscores the linguistic diversity present within the country. Among these non-English languages, Spanish stands out as the most commonly spoken language, with more than one in ten U.S. residents speaking it at home. It is important to note that the percentage of English speakers can vary significantly across different regions of the country. For instance, states with a high concentration of immigrants, such as California and Texas, may have a higher percentage of non-English speakers compared to states with a predominantly native-born population. Additionally, urban areas tend to have a greater linguistic diversity compared to rural areas. The Census Bureau's data also provides insights into the changing linguistic landscape of the United States. As immigration patterns shift and the population grows more diverse, the number of non-English speakers is expected to increase. This trend has implications for various sectors, including education, healthcare, and government services, which may need to adapt to better serve a multilingual population. Furthermore, the ability to speak English is not solely determined by the language spoken at home. Many individuals who speak a language other than English at home are bilingual and are proficient in English as well. This is particularly true for second-generation immigrants who often grow up speaking both their heritage language and English. In conclusion, while English remains the dominant language in the United States, the percentage of the population that speaks English as their primary language at home is less than 80 percent, given that more than 20 percent speak a language other than English at home. This figure, however, does not account for the number of bilingual individuals who are fluent in both English and another language. The linguistic diversity in the U.S. is a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and ongoing demographic changes.

Census: More than 20 percent of U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home. More than one in five people living in America speaks a language other than English at home, while more than one in 10 speaks Spanish, according to the latest United States Census Bureau American Community Survey.Sep 20, 2017