Demographics and 1 more...
Percentage of population that is not proficient in English
Current Value
0.9%
Definition
For a respondent who speaks a language other than English at home, this refers to their assessment of their ability to speak English, from "very well" to "not at all."
Source: Census Glossary
"Percentage of population aged 5 and over who reported speaking English less than well.
% Not Proficient in English is a measure of linguistic isolation. The United States federal government does not designate an official language, although some states do. English is the most common among the more than 350 languages spoken in the U.S. % Not proficient in English can be used to measure vulnerabilities in a planned response to natural disasters and in strategies designed to promote opportunities for health. For example, this metric is included in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and the SVI is also incorporated into the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index.1 Because lifesaving information is often produced quickly and in the dominant language, this metric can be important for equitable emergency response planning.2 This community-level characteristic should not be considered a deficit. However, it may indicate a risk for negative health outcomes during an emergency or natural disaster if resources are not made accessible in ways that reflect community needs. It is possible to work together to leverage assets in communities in times of crisis and for our day-to-day lives."
Source: County Health Rankings
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Data Sources and Measure Methods
"Data Source: American Community Survey, 5-year estimates: The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey designed to give communities a fresh look at how they are changing. It is a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered decennial census program. The ACS collects and produces population and housing information every year instead of every ten years and publishes both one-year and five-year estimates. We use American Community Survey data for measures of social and economic factors. Website to download data
For more detailed methodological information
Key Measure Methods: % Not Proficient In English is a percentage: % Not Proficient in English is the percentage of the population aged 5 and over who reported speaking English less than “well”.
Caution should be used when comparing these estimates across years: Caution should be used when comparing data across years as data comes from overlapping 5-year spans. Additionally, margins of error for 5-year estimates containing data collected in 2020 increased compared to prior 5-year estimates. For more information about data comparability, please visit Comparing 2022 American Community Survey Data.
Numerator: The numerator is the number of people aged 5 and over who self-reported being unproficient in speaking English (speaking English either “not well” or “not at all”).
Denominator: The denominator is the total county population aged 5 and over.
Measure limitations: This measure includes people who responded “Not well” or “Not at all” to the American Community Survey (ACS) question “How well does this person speak English?” The ACS questionnaire is only offered in English and Spanish in the printed and online versions, which could be a barrier for limited English-speaking people and households. However, language assistance services are available over the phone, and interviews over the phone and in person are conducted in multiple languages via bilingual interviewers or with the assistance of interpreters. Non-response due to interviewers not speaking a respondent's language is “very low,” according to the 2022 ACS Design and Methodology report.3
Can This Measure Be Used to Track Progress: This measure can be used to track progress with some caveats. It is important to note that the estimate provided in the Health Snapshots is a five-year average. However, for counties with a population greater than 20,000, single-year estimates can be obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau. Methodological changes to the data collection process for estimates of language use and English-speaking ability also occurred in 2013, meaning data users should use caution when comparing 2013 census data to data from past years. For more information, read the full 2013 Language Estimates user note.
Finding More Data: Disaggregation means breaking data down into smaller, meaningful subgroups. Characteristics of people often break down disaggregated data or where they live. Disaggregated data can reveal inequalities that are otherwise hidden. These data can be disaggregated by:
- Race
- Sub county Area
This measure can be calculated for census tracts, census block groups, and language using table B16005."
References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. CDC/ATSDR SVI 2020 documentation. 2022. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/documentation/pdf/SVI2020Documentation_08.05.22.pdf
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Flanagan BE, Gregory EW, Hallisey EJ, et al. A Social vulnerability index for disaster management. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 2011;8(1). https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/img/pdf/Flanagan_2011_SVIforDisasterManagement-508.pdf
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U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey design and methodology version 3.0. 2022. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/methodology/design_and_methodology/2022/acs_design_methodology_report_2022.pdf
Website Source: % Not Proficient in English* | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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