New York launches language mapping tool

New York City has launched a new interactive mapping tool to help agencies, service providers and community organisations better understand the languages spoken by residents with limited English proficiency across the city’s neighbourhoods.

Developed by the Department of City Planning (DCP), NYC Language Explorer uses US Census Bureau American Community Survey data to present language information through maps, charts and tables at citywide, borough and Community District levels.

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

Among the findings available through NYC Language Explorer are that approximately 1.8 million New Yorkers have limited English proficiency. The Bronx has the city’s highest proportion of residents who speak a language other than English, at 58 percent.

Spanish is the most widely spoken language among residents with limited English proficiency in every borough except Staten Island, where Chinese is the most common. Queens Community District 4 has the city’s largest concentration of Tagalog speakers with limited English proficiency, while 60 percent of New York City’s Ukrainian-speaking population has limited English proficiency.

The tool is designed to support city agencies, non-profit organisations, researchers, advocates and community groups by providing evidence to inform planning, outreach and service delivery.

“The Language Explorer tool makes language data accessible and actionable, helping city agencies and community-based organisations to move beyond assumption-based decisions and towards evidence-based planning so that critical services and information can reach all New Yorkers,” said Faiza Ali, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

The launch expands DCP’s suite of demographic data tools, joining Population FactFinder and Population MapViewer. It also follows the publication of the department’s Newest New Yorkers report, which examines the city’s foreign-born population.

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