English proficiency among recently arrived immigrants is up since 2010 % ofU.S. foreign-born population ages 5 and older, by duration ofresidence
English proficiency among recently arrived immigrants is on the rise. Among those who arrived in the U.S. in the past five years, 45% said in 2017 that they either speak only English at home or speak English very well, up from 38% in 2010. Due to this increase, recent arrivals are closing the gap with longer-term immigrants, who have seen little change in their English proficiency. About half of immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years said in 2017 that they either speak only English at home or speak English very well, a share little changed from 2010.
English proficiency among recently  | arrived immigrants is up since 2010  | % ofU.S. foreign-born population ages 5 and older, by  | duration ofresidence  | Not proficient  | Proficient in  | in English  | Engish  | 2017  | Five years  | 55  | 45  | or less  | More than  | 46  | 54  | 10 years  | 2010  | Five years  | 62  | 38  | or less  | More than  | 48  | 52  | 10 years  | Note: Immigrants who speak English proficiently are those who  | speak only English at home, or speak English "very well."  | Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2010 and 2017  | American Community Surveys (IPUMS).  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 