Language Barriers in Health Care: Findings from the KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health

KFF May 16, 2024
Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, Liz Hamel, Samantha Artiga, Marley Presiado

In the U.S., there are about 26 million people who have limited English proficiency (LEP), meaning they speak English less than very well, making up about 8% of people ages five and older. Most U.S. adults with LEP speak Spanish (62%), followed by Chinese (7%), Vietnamese (3%), Arabic (2%), and Tagalog (2%), with the remainder speaking a variety of different languages from regions across the world. Hispanic people account for nearly two-thirds (62%) of the LEP population, while over a fifth (22%) of individuals with LEP are Asian. The remainder of individuals with LEP are White (11%) or Black (4%) or of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Adults with LEP are also more likely to be low-income—nearly one in five...

Today's Sponsors

Today's Sponsor