Chart 5
English Proficiency
Percent
40
35
35.1
29.4
30
25
23.1
20
15
12.4
10
5
0
Fluent
Proficient
Limited
proficiency
Not at all
Source: CMS calculations based on 2013-2017 5 Year PUMS data
CMS’s analysis suggests that most people who are potentially stateless or potentially at risk of
statelessness are proficient in English. About 35.1 percent rated themselves as fluent and about
29.4 percent rated themselves as proficient. Many fluent and proficient English speakers in this
population come from Nepal. Only 12.4 percent reported that they speak no English, including
many from Bhutan and Myanmar.
Persons who are potentially stateless or potentially at-risk of statelessness possess a relatively
low level of educational attainment. About 40.9 percent of those 18 years old or older possess
less than a high school education and 25.7 percent possess a high school degree or its equivalent.
For comparison, 12.7 percent of the remainder of the population 18 years old or older—all
individuals who are neither potentially stateless nor potentially at risk of statelessness—
possesses less than a high school education and 27.8 percent possesses a high school degree or
its equivalent.55 Only 14.7 percent possesses a bachelor’s degree or higher, as compared to 28.3
percent of the remainder of the US population aged 18 or over.56
Yet many members of this population are enrolled in school. About 33.2 percent aged-3 and over
are pursuing education, as compared to 26.4 percent of the population that is not potentially
stateless or potentially at risk of statelessness.57
55 These differences are significant at the 99 percent level, as indicated by adjusted Wald tests carried out on
weighted ACS data.
56 These differences are significant at the 99 percent level, as indicated by adjusted Wald tests carried out on
weighted ACS data.
57 These differences are significant at the 99 percent level, as indicated by adjusted Wald tests carried out on
weighted ACS data.
56
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