New York City’s Nepali population is experiencing rapid growth, but a significant portion continues to face challenges with English proficiency, according to data from the Asian American Federation Data Center and recent Pew Research.
Overall, 41.1% of Nepalis aged 5 and over living in New York City have Limited English Proficiency (LEP), according to data from the Asian American Federation Data Center. This figure is particularly pronounced in Queens, where the rate rises to 43%. While 48.7% of Nepalis report speaking English “very well” and 10.2% speak “only English.”
When compared to the broader Asian American population in NYC, where the LEP rate for those 5 years and older stands at 42.9%, the Nepali community’s proficiency challenges are evident. However, the Nepali LEP rate is lower than that of some other Asian groups in NYC, such as Bangladeshi (53%), Burmese (53.2%), Chinese (58.1%), Thai (52.5%), and Japanese (44.2%). Conversely, it’s higher than that of Filipinos (18.8%), Indians (24%), and Sri Lankans (37.8%).
While 17.5% of Nepali children in NYC have limited English proficiency, this number jumps to 42% among Nepali adults. Most strikingly, 100% of Nepali seniors in New York City are reported to have Limited English Proficiency.
Recent Pew Research data paints a similar picture on a national scale. Approximately 40% of Nepalis in the U.S. lack proficiency in English, a slight improvement from a previous 49%. This national figure aligns closely with the NYC data for the overall Nepali population.
The Pew data also indicates that 61% of Nepalis aged 5 and older nationally are English proficient, with 11% speaking only English at home and 50% speaking another language but English “very well.” This is still lower than the 74% English proficiency rate for all Asian Americans aged 5 and older.
Education levels also play a role, with 49% of Nepalis aged 25 and above nationally not having pursued education beyond high school, which can correlate with lower English proficiency. Unsurprisingly, Nepali is the dominant language spoken at home by 85% of Nepali Americans aged 5 and older.
The U.S. Census Bureau data highlights a “significant increase of 295.5%” in the Nepali-alone population and a “269.0% growth” for the Nepali-alone or in any combination population over a decade. This surge, exceeding 250%, positioned the Nepali population as the fastest-growing Asian-alone and Asian-alone or in any combination group among those with populations of 50,000 or more in 2010. By 2023, the Census Bureau estimated approximately 225,000 people in the U.S. identified as Nepali.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
