---
"title": "IV. English Proficiency and Citizenship"
"description": "English Proficiency Nearly two-thirds (65%) of all U.S. Hispanics ages five and older either speak only English at home or speak English very well. This compares with 91% of the total U.S. population who are English proficient. The Hispanic origin groups with the highest rates of English proficiency are Puerto Ricans (82%), Mexicans (64%), Colombians […]"
"date": "2012-06-27"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Seth Motel"
    "job_title": "Former Research Analyst"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/seth-motel/"
  -
    "name": "Eileen Patten"
    "job_title": "Former Research Analyst"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/eileen-patten/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/06/27/iv-english-proficiency-and-citizenship/"
"categories":
  - "Hispanics/Latinos & Language"
---

# IV. English Proficiency and Citizenship

### English Proficiency

- ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/06/2012-phc-summary-07.png "2012-phc-summary-07")

  Nearly two-thirds (65%) of all U.S. Hispanics ages five and older either speak only English at home or speak English very well. This compares with 91% of the total U.S. population who are English proficient.

- The Hispanic origin groups with the highest rates of English proficiency are Puerto Ricans (82%), Mexicans (64%), Colombians (59%) and Peruvians (59%).

- Guatemalans (41%), Hondurans (42%) and Salvadorans (46%) have the lowest rates of English proficiency and are the only groups in which less than half of the population ages five and older is proficient in English.

### Citizenship

- ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/06/2012-phc-summary-08.png "2012-phc-summary-08")

  Nearly three-in-four (74%) Hispanics are U.S. citizens, compared with 93% of the entire U.S. population.

- Those born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by birth, and fully 99% of Puerto Ricans hold citizenship.\[7. numoffset=”7″ The remaining 1% are persons who indicated they were not born in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and were not U.S. citizens by birth.\] Cubans (74%) and Mexicans (73%) have the next highest shares of U.S. citizens.

- Hondurans (47%) and Guatemalans (49%) are the only groups among the 10 most populous Hispanic origin groups in which less than half of their populations are U.S. citizens. Hispanics of Salvadoran origin (55%) are the third least likely group to be U.S. citizens. <strong><br></strong>

---

**Next:** [V. Economics and Health Insurance](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/06/27/v-economics-and-health-insurance/markdown)