Colorado's most popular languages spoken at home
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An estimated 16% of Coloradans spoke a language other than English at home in 2023, according to the latest Census Bureau data.
Why it matters: President Trump on Saturday signed an executive order to make English the official language of the U.S.
- It will be the first time the federal government has a single official language. More than 350 languages are spoken here.
By the numbers: In 2023, Spanish was the most common language (after English) spoken at home in Colorado, with 11% of residents using it — a slight drop from its peak of 12.3% in 2005 and 2006.
- Russian, Vietnamese, German and Hindi are the next most popular languages in the state.
Zoom out: Colorado is one of the 32 states that's already designated English as its official tongue.
- Voters approved the measure in 1988 with 61% support.
The big picture: Trump's executive order "promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement," according to the White House.
- The order rescinds a Clinton administration mandate requiring U.S. agencies and other federally funded institutions to provide documents and services in languages other than English, the Wall Street Journal first reported.