Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Sideya Sherman has announced the launch of NYC Language Explorer, a new interactive web tool that makes it easier to understand what languages New Yorkers speak at the citywide, borough and local levels.

NYC Language Explorer presents intuitive tables, maps and charts on the languages spoken by New Yorkers with limited English proficiency, using high-quality, reliable language data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Offering detailed information on the most commonly spoken languages at the citywide, borough and Community District levels, as well as statistics for additional language groups, the tool provides a powerful new way to examine the city’s rich linguistic diversity and better understand local language service needs.

“New York City is home to hundreds of languages, and that diversity is central to who we are,” said DCP Director Sideya Sherman. “NYC Language Explorer gives agencies, service providers, community organizations and New Yorkers an accessible way to better understand the languages spoken in our neighborhoods. By putting this data at people’s fingertips, we can help support more responsive planning, outreach and services across the five boroughs.”

“New York City is a multilingual city, and NYC Language Explorer serves as another example of this administration’s commitment to language justice,” said Commissioner Faiza N. Ali of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “The Language Explorer tool makes language data accessible and actionable, helping City agencies and community-based organizations to move beyond assumption-based decisions and towards evidence-based planning so that critical services and information can reach all New Yorkers. We thank our partners at DCP for developing this resource to strengthen language access across our diverse city and empower even more New Yorkers with the tools they need to thrive.” 

Specifically, NYC Language Explorer will help city agencies, non-profit service providers, researchers, advocates and community organizations understand local language needs and provide more useful, accessible services. The tool also offers a wide range of insights into the languages spoken by New Yorkers. Among the findings available through NYC Language Explorer:

• Across the city, there are roughly 1.8 million residents with limited English proficiency (LEP).
• The Bronx has the highest percentage of residents who speak a language other than English, at 58 percent.
• Spanish is the most spoken LEP language in every borough, except for Staten Island where it is Chinese.
• Queens Community District 4 is home to the city’s largest concentration of Tagalog LEP speakers.
• 60 percent of the city’s Ukrainian-speaking population has limited English proficiency.

NYC Language Explorer is part of DCP’s broader commitment to making demographic data accessible, useful and easy to understand, including through core tools for exploring New York City’s diverse socioeconomic landscape: Population FactFinder and Population MapViewer. The release also follows the recent publication of DCP’s Newest New Yorkers report, which provides a comprehensive portrait of the city’s foreign-born residents.

About the Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the future of New York City, working to create thriving and dynamic neighborhoods with access to housing and jobs, resilient infrastructure, and a vibrant public realm. The Department engages communities to develop inclusive plans, expands housing access and economic opportunity, and plans for long-term sustainability.

DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of hundreds of land use applications. The Department also advises on citywide strategic and capital planning, analyzes data, conducts policy analysis, and creates open data and civic engagement tools