Most people in the United States speak English and most governmental functions are in English. The bureau collects data on language use to know what languages to use, and where, to get information to people about public health, voting, and safety.

News

Stats for Stories

Polish-American Heritage Month: October 2023

October 2023

The American Community Survey estimates about 8.2M (roughly 2.5%) of the nation’s 333.3M people in 2022 reported Polish ancestry.

Stats for Stories

Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month: October 2023

October 2023

The American Community Survey estimated 16 million people or 4.8% of the total 333.3 million U.S. population in 2022 reported Italian ancestry.

Stats for Stories

National Preparedness Month: September 2023

September 2023

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 55.8M U.S. residents 65 years and older in the 2020 Census and 57.8M in the July 1, 2022, population estimates.

Publications

Publication

Language Use in the United States: 2019

September 01, 2022

This report presents data on languages spoken in the United States by people 5 years old and over based on the 1-year 2019 American Community Survey (ACS).

Publication

Developing Public-Facing Language Products

November 03, 2021

This guide shares detailed information about the best practices implemented for the 2020 Census by the Census Bureau.

Publication

English-Speaking Ability of the Foreign-Born Population: 2012

June 10, 2014

This report examines English use at home and English-speaking ability among the foreign born.

Data

Table

Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English

October 2015

The ACS 2009-2013 multi-year data are used to list all languages spoken in the United States that were reported during the sample period.

Table

Detailed Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English

April 2010

The ACS 2006-2008 multi-year data are used to list all languages spoken in the United States that were reported during the sample period.

Table

A Demographic Profile of Foreign-Language Speakers: 2000

November 06, 2006

These foreign born tables are from the 2000 A Demographic Profile of Foreign-Language Speakers.

Working Papers

Working Paper

Which American Languages are Dying?

April 10, 2019

This paper uses ACS data to quantify the vulnerability of endangered indigenous American languages.

Working Paper

Household and Community Characteristics and Children's Acculturation

April 09, 2019

The American Community Survey is used to explore the associations of household and community characteristics with children’s linguistic acculturation.

Working Paper

ACS Redesign of Language-Spoken-at-Home Data, 2016

November 2018

This report describes the processes, decision points, and challenges involved in the 2016 ACS language data redesign.

Other Subtopics Within 'Population'

Age and Sex

Focusing on a population’s age and sex composition is one of the most basic ways to understand population change over time.

Ancestry

Ancestry refers to a person’s ethnic origin or descent, "roots," or heritage, or the place of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors.

Children

All Census Bureau demographic surveys collect information about children. The information collected varies.

Computer and Internet Use

The U.S. Census Bureau has been collecting data on computers and Internet use sporadically since 1984.

Foreign Born

The foreign-born population includes anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth, including those who have become U.S. citizens through naturalization.

Hispanic Origin

People who identify with the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic or Latino categories.

International

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts demographic, economic, and geographic studies of other countries and strengthens statistical development around the world.

Migration/Geographic Mobility

Geographical Mobility/Migration refers to movement of people within US from one location to another at various geographic levels.

Older Population and Aging

Detailed information and statistics on population older population and aging.

Population Estimates

Annual estimates for the U.S., states, counties, cities, etc. Components of population change (births, deaths and migration) for U.S., states and counties.

Population Projections

The Population Projections Program produces population estimates for future dates. Projections include assumptions about future births, deaths, and migration.

Race

The data on race and ethnicity were derived from answers to the question on race and ethnicity that was asked of individuals in the United States.

Veterans

The U.S. Census Bureau currently collects data on veterans of the Armed Forces using the ACS, CPS, and SIPP.