LA Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by LA County Service Planning Area

LA Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by LA County has been published by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California.

This publication examines the diversity of language found in LA County. It includes demographics (race/ethnicity, place of origin, languages spoken at home), a look at limited English proficiency and the barriers faced by those with limited English skills, policy recommendations and more. Languages spoken are broken down by SPAs (service planning areas).

Selected Findings:

• More than one third (36%) of LA County residents were born outside the US.
• About one quarter of LA County seniors (ages 65 and older) are limited English proficient, (meaning they cannot speak the language 'very well', or experience difficulty in communicating in English).
• More than half of LA County residents speak a language other than English at home.
• 2.5 million LA County residents are considered limited English proficient
• Out of all the service planning areas (or SPAs), SPA 4 (Metro LA) has the highest percentage of residents born outside the US at about half (51%); SPA 1 (Antelope Valley) has the lowest percentage of residents born outside the US at 15%.