Ability to speak English among different language groups spoken at home. Des Moines 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
183,502
100.0%
Speak only English
162,403
88.5%
Speak a language other than English
21,099
11.5%
Spanish
9,941
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
4,418
44.4%
Speak English "well"
2,070
20.8%
Speak English "not well"
2,326
23.4%
Speak English "not at all"
1,127
11.3%
Other Indo-European languages
4,753
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
2,592
54.5%
Speak English "well"
1,079
22.7%
Speak English "not well"
887
18.7%
Speak English "not at all"
195
4.1%
Asian and Pacific Island languages
5,279
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
2,234
42.3%
Speak English "well"
1,569
29.7%
Speak English "not well"
1,257
23.8%
Speak English "not at all"
219
4.1%
All other languages
1,126
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
421
37.4%
Speak English "well"
261
23.2%
Speak English "not well"
342
30.4%
Speak English "not at all"
102
9.1%
Ability to speak English by age
Persons
Percent
Population 5 years and over
183,502
100.0%
Speak a language other than English
21,099
11.5%
5 to 17 years
4,653
2.5%
18 to 64 years
15,053
8.2%
65 years and over
1,393
0.8%
Speak English less than "very well"
11,434
6.2%
5 to 17 years
1,934
1.1%
18 to 64 years
8,749
4.8%
65 years and over
751
0.4%
Linguistically isolated households*
2,474
Population 5 years and over in households*
177,031
100.0%
In linguistically isolated households
7,302
4.1%
5 to 17 years
1,842
1.0%
18 to 64 years
5,089
2.9%
65 years and over
371
0.2%
* No member 14 years or older speaks English only or "very well"
