With so many wonderful languages out there (and yeah, an approximate 7,000 languages are spoken across the globe), it’s no wonder that you may want to know which language is spoken the most. However, language experts don’t really have consensus on which language is at the top of the list, and for good reason.
Many people speak more than one language, and therefore, they may be counted more than once in the statistics of the most spoken languages in the world. And does learning a language count? Do you need to be fluent to be counted in the “most spoken language” statistic or how is it only by population and official language status?
As a polyglot, I love speaking multiple languages,
and I could no sooner choose a favorite language than pick my most favorite star in the sky. But, I digress, and I’m on a mission to find the most spoken language in the world.
Most Spoken Language per Continent
Let’s start smaller than the world. The most spoken languages per continent are:
Europe – Spanish
Asia – Mandarin (but keep in mind how heavily populated Asia is)
North America – English
South America – Spanish
Africa – Swahili and Yoruba (but at the national level, it’s often French, Portuguese, or English)
Interested in language learning? Explore my tips and hacks:
7 Most Spoken Languages Internationally
It’s no easy feat to decide which languages are most spoken, and the numbers are conflicting, often reflecting political views and inaccurate census-taking. However, I’ve created a comprehensive list of the 7 most spoken languages in the world.
And here’s a shocker: Number 1 is a tie with 3 languages!
1, 2, and 3: English, Spanish, and Mandarin
If I consider the most spoken languages per continent, it seems like Spanish should be the most spoken language. However, many people on these continents also speak English, so I decided that English and Spanish should be tied for spot one on my list.
But let’s not forget Mandarin, with billions of speakers in Asia alone, so it’s impossible not to also include it in the tie for the most spoken language on earth. So we have a three-way tie.
While the numbers according to the statistics are tied, the information is quite conflicting, and this is why a tie seems more fair. But let’s get into the details of the most spoken languages.
English
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Number of global speakers: 1.456 billion speakers and 380 million native speakers
Number of countries where English is officially spoken: 96 (and counting as more countries speak English)
English is one of the older languages, with a rich heritage that spans centuries and includes Latin, Germanic languages, and some of the Romance languages. It originates in England, which is why it’s called English, and it’s considered the commercial language of the world, as many businesses rely on English to conduct business.
To learn English, you’d require about 24 weeks or 600 hours of language study. English is a category 1 language, and it is one of the easiest languages to achieve basic fluency in.
Mandarin
Number of global speakers: 1.138 billion speakers and 900 million native speakers (one in six people globally speak Mandarin)
Number of countries where Mandarin is officially spoken: 3+ (it’s unclear how many other countries officially acknowledge Mandarin)
Despite being widely spoken, it’s not the easiest of languages to learn. Mandarin has a Foreign Service Institute (FSI) rating of level 5, with 88 weeks of tuition required for basic fluency (2,200 hours of learning). The language has many logograms, and it’s got its own alphabet and unusual grammatical conventions that are nothing like English.
Spanish
Number of global speakers: 559.1 million speakers and most of these are native speakers (6.3% of the world population)
Number of countries where Spanish is officially spoken: 20
Spanish is a category 1 language according to the FSI, and it will take approximately 600 hours or 24 weeks of tuition to learn the language. Since Spanish has a Latin alphabet and similar sentence structure to English and other European languages, it’s fairly easy to acquire.
If you love to love, Spanish is the language for you as it’s one of the main Romance languages. I love cooking in Spanish, how about you?
4. Hindi
Number of global speakers: 609.5 million speakers and 570.31 million native speakers
Number of countries where Hindi is officially spoken: 9
Hindi isn’t an easy language to learn, and with the non-Latin alphabet (Devanagari script), it’s a challenging language for English-speakers to learn. It’s ranked as a category 4 language, and it takes 44 weeks and 1,100 hours of tuition to gain fluency.
Despite the difficulty, Hindi has contributed some unusual words to English, which you will recognize once you start learning, such as “shampoo” and “jungle.”
5. Arabic
Number of global speakers: 422 million speakers and 362 million native speakers
Number of countries where Arabic is officially spoken: 22-35 (depending on political views)
Arabic is considered a super difficult language to learn and ranks as a category 5 language, according to the FSI. It takes approximately 88 weeks and 2,200 hours of study to gain basic fluency. Since Arabic also has its own alphabet and unique script, it’s more difficult to learn the language to English-speakers.
6. French
Number of global speakers: 320 million and 309 native speakers
Number of countries where French is officially spoken: 29 countries and territories
Not only is French considered to be the language of love (though the other Romance languages give it a serious go), but French is also widely spoken.
The reason? As a former colonial power, France expanded into many continents, such as Africa and the Americas, which is why French is still spoken as a second mother tongue in these now-independent countries.
The FSI rates French as a fairly easy language to acquire at category 1 level, so you’ll need about 24 weeks and 600 hours to master the basics. It’s often the pronunciation that might trip you up until you get the hang of it.
7. Bengali
Number of global speakers: 282.9 million and 167.25 million native speakers
Number of countries where Bengali is officially spoken: 3
You’ll need some patience to learn Bengali as it’s a category 4 language, and it will take 44 weeks and 1,100 hours of study to learn the basics and become somewhat fluent.
Bengali has its own alphabet, which complicates matters a bit. You may also struggle to find speakers to practice with outside of Bangladesh, unless you are fortunate to live in a diverse community with immigrants from Bengal.
Best Apps for Learning the Most Spoken Languages
learly, while a language may be widely spoken, this doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn, and you’ll need all the help you can get to master a new language (unless you have relatives or friends who speak it).
I love using apps as an add-on learning resource to help me learn a new language or revise vocabulary and refresh grammar rules.
Here are some of my favorite apps to consider:
1. Babbel
For quick, bite-sized lessons that offer an excellent introduction to a new language, Babbel is a great option. I really like the overall structure of lessons on the Babbel app, and it’s one of the more affordable language learning options out there.
Languages: 14 languages, depending on your native language (and you can learn English, French, and Spanish of the most spoken languages on my list)
Key Features:
- Lessons focus on real-world conversations
- Immersion through podcasts, games, a browser extension, and live classes
- Learn to build words and use these in conversations
- Easy access to new phrases in the “My Vocab” tab to help you learn and revise faster
- Different payment options make it fairly affordable to any language learner, though live classes are quite pricey
Cost:
- Babbel Self-Study is US$13.95 per month, and this gives you access to learn one language.
- There’s also the Lifetime option at US$599.99 with access to 14 language courses.
- Babbel Live is US$99.00 per month.
2. Mondly
Another big name in the language learning app space is Mondly, and I love their approach to helping you master languages. Their compact lessons require as little as five minutes a day, which is ideal for the busy professional.
Languages: 42 languages, depending on your native language (Most spoken languages include English, French, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, and Urdu being similar to Bengali)
Key Features:
Phrase-based learning
Audio by native speakers
Uses augmented reality to help you learn
Chatbot lessons
Cost:
US$9.99 for a monthly Premium plan
US$47.99 for a yearly Premium plan
US$1,999.99 for a Lifetime Access plan (look out for discounts)
For more information on language learning apps check out my reviews:
3. Rocket Languages
To help you master that most-spoken language, you can use Rocket Languages, which has a strong focus on speaking correctly in your chosen language. The lessons are fun and you practice conversations while speaking and mastering pronunciation with their impressive speech-recognition software.
Languages: 14 languages (learn Spanish, English, French, Hindi, Chinese/Mandarin, and Arabic, but no Bengali or Urdu)
Key Features:
On the spot practice to help you feel comfortable about conversing in the chosen language
Listening skills to help you pick up language nuances
Lessons are 15-30 minutes in duration
Lesson audio includes a script to help you listen, speak, and read
Lessons include flashcards, audio, written activities, and more
Cost:
US$149.95 for Rocket 1 Language Level 1
US$299.90 for Rocket 1 Language Levels 1 & 2
US$449.85 for Rocket 1 Language Level 1, 2, & 3
The Last Popular Language
In a world where we are all speaking, there are many different languages, and what language is most popular depends on how many people speak that language.
I love learning many different languages, and while I don’t necessarily choose the languages that are ranked as most popular, I believe that the language you learn depends on what language you can use and practice in your daily life.
Which languages are your favorite, and how did you learn them?
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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