How many people speak "Chinese " in America

Language category: ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLAND LANGUAGES Language sub-category: Chinese (incl. Cantonese, Mandarin, other Chinese languages4)

In October 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau released the "2009-2013 American Community Survey" which provides information on "languages spoken at home" and "ability to speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over" for the United States as a whole, states including Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., selected counties, and selected cities and urban areas. The following provides aggregated survey information on people who speak "Chinese", as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Chinese speakers in the United States

Country	Number of speakers	Margin of Error	Speak English less than "Very Well"	Margin of Error
United States	1,867,485	13,875	1,054,885	8,578

Chinese speakers by U.S. state

What U.S. states have the most chinese speakers?

State	Number of speakers	Margin of Error	Speak English less than "Very Well"	Margin of Error
California	574,075	6,875	332,215	4,915
New York	336,870	6,171	223,870	5,003
Texas	101,890	3,355	52,130	2,285
New Jersey	78,860	3,311	36,345	1,907
Massachusetts	70,395	2,552	38,015	2,065
Illinois	65,740	2,496	35,685	1,782
Pennsylvania	55,775	2,304	30,770	1,564
Washington	52,980	2,225	27,875	1,356
Maryland	46,830	2,016	22,605	1,529
Florida	43,280	2,459	23,730	1,802
Virginia	37,210	2,186	17,090	1,319
Ohio	33,190	1,682	17,035	1,051
Georgia	31,485	1,757	16,790	1,268
Michigan	29,960	1,458	14,875	967
North Carolina	23,655	1,396	10,720	925
Connecticut	20,945	1,562	10,415	986
Arizona	19,765	1,555	10,520	1,035
Indiana	18,560	1,437	11,320	1,179
Oregon	18,555	1,379	9,970	928
Nevada	17,580	1,562	10,470	1,078
Hawaii	17,360	1,259	10,450	837
Minnesota	16,730	1,137	7,495	756
Missouri	14,755	1,073	8,380	830
Colorado	14,380	1,163	7,390	785
Wisconsin	12,130	974	6,345	767
Tennessee	10,770	1,298	5,360	906
Kansas	8,665	881	5,020	623
Iowa	8,290	871	4,215	554
Louisiana	8,240	954	4,635	740
South Carolina	7,895	939	4,250	635
Utah	7,625	857	4,145	526
Alabama	7,405	867	4,275	638
Oklahoma	6,915	637	3,520	428
Kentucky	6,780	679	3,835	493
Delaware	5,060	705	2,445	482
Rhode Island	4,490	635	2,720	458
New Hampshire	3,725	616	2,120	525
Mississippi	3,675	728	2,235	505
Nebraska	3,575	507	2,240	440
Arkansas	3,320	642	1,920	509
New Mexico	3,160	540	1,420	297
District of Columbia	2,665	448	1,065	242
Idaho	2,175	522	1,080	335
West Virginia	2,110	412	1,165	282
Maine	1,955	447	1,265	318
Alaska	1,410	460	795	330
South Dakota	1,245	381	630	307
Vermont	1,110	291	650	208
North Dakota	1,060	252	755	216
Puerto Rico	1,055	526	1,015	520
Montana	775	241	435	177
Wyoming	420	161	200	89

Chinese speakers by U.S county

What counties in the United States have the most chinese speakers?

County	Number of speakers	Margin of Error	Speak English less than "Very Well"	Margin of Error
Los Angeles County [CA]	174,385	3,890	109,640	2,665
Queens County [NY]	120,505	3,665	86,075	2,949
Kings County [NY]	91,845	2,410	66,190	2,162
Santa Clara County [CA]	72,550	2,543	35,880	1,510
San Francisco County [CA]	72,135	2,960	47,960	2,109
Alameda County [CA]	69,165	2,986	40,515	2,055
New York County [NY]	54,690	2,023	35,125	1,694
Cook County [IL]	39,185	1,778	22,490	1,333
Orange County [CA]	38,385	2,165	18,140	1,307
King County [WA]	38,030	1,951	20,025	1,196
Harris County [TX]	28,485	1,541	16,015	1,178
San Diego County [CA]	27,495	1,784	14,050	1,114
Middlesex County [MA]	27,100	1,408	13,000	1,114
San Mateo County [CA]	26,745	1,571	13,510	926
Montgomery County [MD]	26,460	1,373	12,350	915
Sacramento County [CA]	19,540	1,505	13,135	1,120
Philadelphia County [PA]	18,725	1,436	12,695	1,219
Contra Costa County [CA]	17,545	1,323	8,900	871
Honolulu County [HI]	16,790	1,239	10,160	814
Fairfax County [VA]	16,565	1,715	7,315	897
Norfolk County [MA]	16,000	1,312	8,795	771
Middlesex County [NJ]	15,725	1,257	7,650	775
Clark County [NV]	15,495	1,444	9,465	976
Suffolk County [MA]	14,645	1,122	9,500	824
Fort Bend County [TX]	14,190	1,396	6,350	728
Collin County [TX]	13,930	1,228	6,495	801
Maricopa County [AZ]	13,750	1,200	7,445	807
Nassau County [NY]	13,375	982	7,000	682
San Bernardino County [CA]	11,960	1,355	6,615	774
Bergen County [NJ]	10,225	1,203	4,455	714
Dallas County [TX]	8,965	1,210	4,815	792
Riverside County [CA]	8,945	970	5,080	649
Suffolk County [NY]	8,400	830	4,435	611
Richmond County [NY]	8,270	757	4,635	559
DuPage County [IL]	8,225	855	4,030	572
Oakland County [MI]	8,200	696	3,310	413
Cuyahoga County [OH]	7,500	791	4,025	500
Somerset County [NJ]	7,450	860	2,980	464
Morris County [NJ]	7,375	857	3,185	494
Franklin County [OH]	7,205	708	3,910	539
Fulton County [GA]	7,190	921	3,405	518
Gwinnett County [GA]	7,040	962	4,240	820
Travis County [TX]	6,985	823	2,985	510
Allegheny County [PA]	6,890	671	3,535	476
Montgomery County [PA]	6,890	794	2,970	483
Wake County [NC]	6,630	788	2,475	459
Hudson County [NJ]	6,590	697	3,385	492
Multnomah County [OR]	6,410	751	4,045	621
Miami-Dade County [FL]	6,125	969	3,270	663
Hennepin County [MN]	6,060	750	2,565	444
Essex County [NJ]	6,035	726	2,205	422
Broward County [FL]	5,885	739	3,385	519
Westchester County [NY]	5,875	848	2,215	400
Howard County [MD]	5,775	705	2,565	461
St. Louis County [MO]	5,695	704	2,980	473
Fairfield County [CT]	5,690	789	2,420	423
Monmouth County [NJ]	5,680	766	2,560	461
New Haven County [CT]	5,525	871	2,815	524
Washtenaw County [MI]	5,365	676	2,420	473
Lake County [IL]	5,210	653	1,920	343
Ventura County [CA]	5,135	722	2,645	473
Snohomish County [WA]	5,065	796	2,705	506
Mercer County [NJ]	4,975	797	1,900	424
Orange County [FL]	4,720	1,164	2,595	738
Denton County [TX]	4,715	808	2,545	635
Washington County [OR]	4,710	761	2,015	439
Pima County [AZ]	4,625	1,049	2,425	504
Salt Lake County [UT]	4,555	770	2,545	462
New Castle County [DE]	4,535	615	2,205	443
Wayne County [MI]	4,480	602	2,260	390
Bronx County [NY]	4,445	669	3,085	477
Tarrant County [TX]	4,440	744	2,145	444
Dane County [WI]	4,430	674	2,225	446
San Joaquin County [CA]	4,395	811	3,070	635
DeKalb County [GA]	4,335	726	2,740	554
Hartford County [CT]	4,285	593	2,095	439
Baltimore County [MD]	4,205	697	2,350	502
Worcester County [MA]	4,165	591	2,150	432
Prince George s County [MD]	3,830	595	2,065	426
Monroe County [NY]	3,830	633	2,075	379
Palm Beach County [FL]	3,605	680	1,985	530
Erie County [NY]	3,550	554	1,500	345
Ramsey County [MN]	3,520	516	1,600	378
Delaware County [PA]	3,520	594	1,845	406
Cobb County [GA]	3,485	731	1,475	381
Camden County [NJ]	3,420	671	2,000	391
Yolo County [CA]	3,385	578	1,985	444
Essex County [MA]	3,320	604	1,590	379
Chester County [PA]	3,265	529	1,330	257
Bexar County [TX]	3,260	601	1,810	397
Fresno County [CA]	3,195	612	1,925	444
Hillsborough County [FL]	3,160	636	1,270	373
Providence County [RI]	3,115	577	1,935	434
Marion County [IN]	3,110	691	2,430	609
Mecklenburg County [NC]	3,060	662	1,590	462
Loudoun County [VA]	2,850	620	1,220	311
Albany County [NY]	2,835	446	1,455	329
Johnson County [KS]	2,800	502	1,185	360
Union County [NJ]	2,770	584	1,225	325
District of Columbia [DC]	2,665	448	1,065	242
Will County [IL]	2,635	554	1,485	375
Shelby County [TN]	2,555	554	1,075	312
Atlantic County [NJ]	2,480	662	1,775	473
Onondaga County [NY]	2,475	445	1,375	291
Arapahoe County [CO]	2,440	505	1,450	379
Milwaukee County [WI]	2,360	459	1,475	429
Oklahoma County [OK]	2,340	447	1,230	280
Santa Barbara County [CA]	2,310	420	1,020	264
Rockland County [NY]	2,180	508	1,150	345
Bucks County [PA]	2,170	469	795	208
Denver County [CO]	2,100	483	1,040	273
Henrico County [VA]	2,085	475	960	324
Pinellas County [FL]	2,045	521	1,410	450
Davidson County [TN]	1,990	478	985	379
Macomb County [MI]	1,950	405	1,140	266
Clark County [WA]	1,915	413	1,100	292
Baltimore city [MD]	1,910	297	1,015	261
Hamilton County [OH]	1,855	412	700	216
Guilford County [NC]	1,830	430	820	249
Solano County [CA]	1,825	432	960	252
Duval County [FL]	1,760	491	930	351
Washoe County [NV]	1,730	474	890	336
Arlington County [VA]	1,725	447	635	243
Jefferson Parish [LA]	1,720	493	925	377
Jefferson County [KY]	1,715	381	860	271
Pierce County [WA]	1,665	368	785	221
Hillsborough County [NH]	1,620	387	945	297
Polk County [IA]	1,595	469	680	273
Prince William County [VA]	1,560	389	660	193
Bernalillo County [NM]	1,550	335	895	230
Passaic County [NJ]	1,490	405	880	277
Dakota County [MN]	1,470	451	760	276
Anne Arundel County [MD]	1,440	407	515	206
Burlington County [NJ]	1,400	343	675	187
Orange County [NY]	1,390	462	695	245
Monterey County [CA]	1,365	324	580	166
Sonoma County [CA]	1,365	319	670	212
El Paso County [CO]	1,340	404	750	246
Virginia Beach city [VA]	1,265	329	640	198
Stanislaus County [CA]	1,260	504	720	287
Placer County [CA]	1,250	429	650	246
Lancaster County [PA]	1,185	364	750	283
Bristol County [MA]	1,170	398	675	231
Hampden County [MA]	1,125	300	705	246
Kane County [IL]	1,115	368	475	230
Kern County [CA]	870	276	520	172
Plymouth County [MA]	790	312	330	162
Ocean County [NJ]	775	289	415	191
Anchorage Municipality [AK]	740	375	445	275
Lee County [FL]	725	278	330	152
Collier County [FL]	635	324	410	249
Hawaii County [HI]	250	127	155	92
Maui County [HI]	210	117	85	83
San Juan County [NM]	45	62	(D)	(D)
Navajo County [AZ]	(D)	(D)	(B)	-

Chinese speakers by U.S city / urban area

What cities in the United States have the most chinese speakers?

City / Metropolitan area / CBSA	Number of speakers	Margin of Error	Speak English less than "Very Well"	Margin of Error
New York-Newark-Jersey City [NY]	378,265	6,513	241,015	5,124
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim [CA]	212,770	4,296	127,775	3,106
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward [CA]	186,840	5,097	111,225	3,364
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara [CA]	72,580	2,541	35,895	1,510
Boston-Cambridge-Newton [MA-NH]	62,975	2,413	33,845	1,867
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin [IL-IN]	58,865	2,406	32,030	1,716
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria [DC-VA-MD-WV]	58,445	2,411	26,915	1,527
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land [TX]	46,585	2,195	24,200	1,449
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington [PA-NJ-DE-MD]	45,220	2,180	24,930	1,493
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue [WA]	44,760	2,052	23,515	1,277
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington [TX]	32,445	2,020	16,210	1,346
San Diego-Carlsbad [CA]	27,495	1,784	14,050	1,114
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell [GA]	25,690	1,628	13,700	1,195
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade [CA]	24,640	1,717	15,960	1,250
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario [CA]	20,905	1,823	11,695	1,033
Urban Honolulu [HI]	16,790	1,239	10,160	814
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro [OR-WA]	15,920	1,380	8,645	880
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach [FL]	15,615	1,461	8,640	1,060
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise [NV]	15,495	1,444	9,465	976
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn [MI]	14,790	1,014	6,735	647
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington [MN-WI]	14,335	1,147	6,265	693
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson [MD]	14,185	1,203	6,840	826
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale [AZ]	13,965	1,191	7,600	795
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood [CO]	9,045	976	4,850	657
Columbus [OH]	8,960	860	4,400	589
Austin-Round Rock [TX]	8,880	941	3,595	557
Cleveland-Elyria [OH]	8,680	838	4,635	533
St. Louis [MO-IL]	8,345	843	4,485	568
Pittsburgh [PA]	8,125	690	4,085	520
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford [FL]	7,305	1,352	3,865	954
Raleigh [NC]	6,700	783	2,515	454
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson [IN]	6,625	951	3,990	714
Cincinnati [OH-KY-IN]	6,030	822	2,875	480
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater [FL]	5,970	873	3,045	623
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford [CT]	5,760	762	2,450	480
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk [CT]	5,690	789	2,420	423
Providence-Warwick [RI-MA]	5,660	803	3,395	538
New Haven-Milford [CT]	5,525	871	2,815	524
Albany-Schenectady-Troy [NY]	5,520	675	2,890	485
Ann Arbor [MI]	5,365	676	2,420	473
Kansas City [MO-KS]	5,305	778	2,880	563
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura [CA]	5,135	722	2,645	473
Durham-Chapel Hill [NC]	5,030	639	2,120	418
Trenton [NJ]	4,975	797	1,900	424
Salt Lake City [UT]	4,670	787	2,620	464
Tucson [AZ]	4,625	1,049	2,425	504
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia [NC-SC]	4,540	674	2,340	486
Madison [WI]	4,440	674	2,230	445
Worcester [MA-CT]	4,440	596	2,260	438
Stockton-Lodi [CA]	4,395	811	3,070	635
Rochester [NY]	4,295	662	2,320	397
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis [WI]	4,055	621	2,100	463
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls [NY]	4,000	582	1,765	351
Richmond [VA]	3,905	607	1,775	366
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin [TN]	3,875	873	1,940	582
Lansing-East Lansing [MI]	3,785	513	2,860	404
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News [VA-NC]	3,760	591	1,575	309
Oklahoma City [OK]	3,755	576	1,940	362
San Antonio-New Braunfels [TX]	3,575	617	1,920	408
New Orleans-Metairie [LA]	3,355	569	1,735	452
Fresno [CA]	3,195	612	1,925	444
Memphis [TN-MS-AR]	3,135	608	1,455	372
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton [PA-NJ]	2,910	540	1,420	312
Akron [OH]	2,800	501	1,475	337
Syracuse [NY]	2,700	464	1,505	303
Jacksonville [FL]	2,580	571	1,340	390
Atlantic City-Hammonton [NJ]	2,480	662	1,775	473
Baton Rouge [LA]	2,395	449	1,430	340
Louisville Jefferson County [KY]	2,335	400	1,195	270
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara [CA]	2,310	420	1,020	264
Springfield [MA]	2,310	559	1,495	430
Greensboro-High Point [NC]	2,010	427	930	255
Dayton [OH]	2,000	348	1,145	246
Vallejo-Fairfield [CA]	1,825	432	960	252
Des Moines-West Des Moines [IA]	1,745	485	760	285
Reno [NV]	1,730	474	890	336
Tulsa [OK]	1,710	343	850	208
Grand Rapids-Wyoming [MI]	1,705	439	630	244
Albuquerque [NM]	1,665	373	895	230
Manchester-Nashua [NH]	1,620	387	945	297
Harrisburg-Carlisle [PA]	1,565	360	755	205
Omaha-Council Bluffs [NE-IA]	1,400	340	925	302
Colorado Springs [CO]	1,390	404	795	245
Salinas [CA]	1,365	324	580	166
Santa Rosa [CA]	1,365	319	670	212
Modesto [CA]	1,260	504	720	287
Lancaster [PA]	1,185	364	750	283
New York-Newark-Jersey City [NY-NJ-PA]	1,125	409	680	326
Spokane-Spokane Valley [WA]	990	280	570	206
Portland-South Portland [ME]	970	332	640	248
Bakersfield [CA]	870	276	520	172
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach [FL]	865	336	570	275
Anchorage [AK]	855	405	480	282
Cape Coral-Fort Myers [FL]	725	278	330	152
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island [FL]	635	324	410	249
Lafayette [LA]	615	297	420	272
Hilo [HI]	250	127	155	92
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina [HI]	210	117	85	83
Farmington [NM]	45	62	(D)	(D)
Show Low [AZ]	(D)	(D)	(B)	-

Notes

Number of speakers and Speak English less than "Very Well": Detailed-language estimates are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Aggregate estimates ("language category" and "language sub-category" entries) are unrounded and appear in table B16001. Detailed-language estimates may not sum to aggregate estimates because of rounding.
Margin of Error and Margin of Error: Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data. The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables.
(D): Data withheld to avoid disclosure.
(B): Either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate.
(X): Question does not apply.
-: Either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate.