Ability to speak English among different language groups spoken at home. New York Population of the study includes all persons 5 years and over. Ability to speak English "very well" by age, and rate of linguistically isolated households* is shown in the second table.
Ability to speak English by language spoken at home
Persons
Percent
Population 5 years and over
7,475,602
100.0%
Speak only English
3,920,797
52.4%
Speak a language other than English
3,554,805
47.6%
Spanish
1,832,402
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
911,078
49.7%
Speak English "well"
404,444
22.1%
Speak English "not well"
352,556
19.2%
Speak English "not at all"
164,324
9.0%
Other Indo-European languages
1,045,707
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
576,989
55.2%
Speak English "well"
276,527
26.4%
Speak English "not well"
155,524
14.9%
Speak English "not at all"
36,667
3.5%
Asian and Pacific Island languages
515,157
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
189,836
36.9%
Speak English "well"
135,940
26.4%
Speak English "not well"
128,987
25.0%
Speak English "not at all"
60,394
11.7%
All other languages
161,539
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
107,925
66.8%
Speak English "well"
36,906
22.8%
Speak English "not well"
14,474
9.0%
Speak English "not at all"
2,234
1.4%
Ability to speak English by age
Persons
Percent
Population 5 years and over
7,475,602
100.0%
Speak a language other than English
3,554,805
47.6%
5 to 17 years
668,149
8.9%
18 to 64 years
2,511,852
33.6%
65 years and over
374,804
5.0%
Speak English less than "very well"
1,768,977
23.7%
5 to 17 years
223,380
3.0%
18 to 64 years
1,295,078
17.3%
65 years and over
250,519
3.4%
Linguistically isolated households*
440,196
Population 5 years and over in households*
7,298,579
100.0%
In linguistically isolated households
1,075,453
14.7%
5 to 17 years
200,714
2.8%
18 to 64 years
713,298
9.8%
65 years and over
161,441
2.2%
* No member 14 years or older speaks English only or "very well"
