20 most spoken languages in the world with current data

The most widely spoken languages in the world not only express the limitations and complexity of the language, but also show that these languages have had a wide range of cultural influences and historical significance. Throughout human history, various factors such as politics, migration and technology have influenced the spread of languages. These elements are still relevant today. For this reason, the list of the most spoken languages in the world can change in a short time. Here are the 20 most spoken languages in the world with up-to-date data👇

1. English

1 billion 452 million people.
It is the official language in 67 countries.

With nearly one and a half billion people speaking English, it’s no surprise that it tops the list of the world’s most widely spoken languages. English is extremely important in today’s globalized world. For this reason, English is taught as a second language in many countries.

English has spread widely as a West Germanic language that originated in England and has become the official language of international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. Especially a person who speaks Spanish and English can understand 1 out of every 3 people connected to the Internet. In addition, those who know this language can access more than 60% of everything on the web.

2. Mandarin (Standard Chinese)

1 billion 118 million people.
It is the official language in China, Taiwan and Singapore.

Mandarin is the second most spoken language in the world. The Chinese language is a truly fascinating language with a rich history and wide usage around the world.

Despite its popularity, many people find it difficult to learn Chinese due to its tonal structure, which consists of four basic tones with different meanings. However, mastery of this language can open up many opportunities for business and cultural exchange, especially with China, Taiwan and Singapore.

3. Hindi

Over 602 million people.
It is the official language in India.

Hindi is one of the 22 official languages of India and the second most populous country in the world. India’s incredible linguistic diversity (over 121 languages) explains the high percentage of non-Hindi speakers using Hindi as their lingua franca.

Besides India, Hindi is spoken by more than a quarter of Nepal’s population.

4. Spanish

Over 548 million people.
It is an official language in 21 countries.

Spanish is one of the most fascinating languages in the world. Originating in the Iberian Peninsula, Spanish is known for its melodic sounds and passionate intonations. It is also the official language of 21 countries including Spain, Mexico and Argentina. Turkish speakers can easily learn Spanish.

5. Arabic

372 million people.
It is the official language in 25 countries.

The Arabic language is of great importance in the world, it is spoken by more than 372 million people. It is widely spoken in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq. The Arabic language is Semitic, that is, its roots go back to the ancient languages of the Arabian Peninsula.

6. French

Over 280 million people.
It is an official language in 29 countries.

The French language attracts millions of people around the world. As the second most studied language, it has become a popular choice for people looking to broaden their cultural horizons or improve their career prospects.

Learning French offers countless benefits, from improving cognitive function to creating new opportunities for work and travel.

7. Bengali

Over 272 million people.
It is the official language in Bangladesh and India.

Bengali is one of the fascinating languages, globally recognized as the seventh most spoken language in the world. Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language that evolved from ancient Sanskrit. It is the official language of Bangladesh and is spoken in many parts of India.

8. Russian

Over 258 million people.
It is the official language in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The Russian language is not just a language, it is a culture in itself. It is the official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. As the most spoken language in Europe, it has a significant impact not only on the continent but throughout the world. Its influence in literature, music, cinema and art makes this language an important part of the world’s cultural heritage.

9. Portuguese

257 million people.
It is an official language in 10 countries.

Portuguese, which is spoken by millions of people around the world, ranks 9th on the list. The universality of the Portuguese language is evident in its use as the official language of Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and other countries.

10. Urdu

232 million people.
It is the official language in Pakistan.

Urdu is a language with deep roots in the history and culture of Pakistan and India. As the national language of Pakistan, it plays an important role in shaping the country’s identity. Urdu stands out for its rich vocabulary and vivid imagery.

11. Indonesian

199 million people.
It is the official language in Indonesia.

Indonesia is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. In fact, the Indonesian language spoken by the people is also spoken by millions of people. This language is very similar to Malay. Therefore, Indonesian and Malay speakers can easily communicate with each other. In addition, the mutual intelligibility of the two languages allows people to learn both languages at the same time.

12. german

Over 134 million people.
It is the official language in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

German, West Germanic; It is widely distributed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In addition to being the official language of these countries, it also occupies an important place as the most widely spoken language in the European Union. In various fields such as literature, music or science, the German language has a special place.

13. Japanese

Over 125 million people.
Japan is the official language.

Japanese is the only native language of Japan. It is also known for having one of the most complex writing systems in the world. It uses three unique alphabets: kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Kanji uses Chinese characters to represent words, while hiragana and katakana are phonetic scripts used for grammatical purposes.

14. Nigerian pidgin

Over 120 million people.
It is the official language of Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

Nigeria is one of the fastest growing countries in terms of population. By 2050, the West African country is estimated to be the fourth largest country in the world by population. With such a rapid population growth in Nigeria, we can expect the Nigerian Pidgin to rise up this list in the coming years.

15. Marathi

99 million people.
It is one of the official languages of India.

Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language, is of great importance in India. It is widely spoken as the official language of the state of Maharashtra. Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language, is written in Devanagari. Contains words derived from Persian and Hindi.

16. Telugu

95 million people.
It is one of the official languages of India.

Telugu, one of the 22 languages of India, is an ancient Dravidian language that spread outside of Andhra Pradesh. With over 95 million speakers worldwide, Telugu has its own alphabet and is one of the four classical languages of India.

17. Turkish

Over 88 million people.
Turkish is the official language in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Turkish is the 17th most widely spoken language in the world. Turkish is much more than a spoken language; This is a culture that has been shaped by history over the centuries. Its unique features such as vowel harmony and additive grammar have been instrumental in establishing Turkish as one of the most fascinating languages in the world. Turkish is spoken not only in Turkey, but also in Northern Cyprus.

18. Tamil

86 million people.
It is the official language in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

One of the oldest languages in the world, Tamil is known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse literary traditions. Spoken by millions of people in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore, Tamil is a Dravidian language with its own grammatical structure and phonological system.

19. Yue China

Over 85 million people.
It is spoken in China and Southeast Asia.

Yue Chinese, also known as Cantonese, has a long and established history in China and Southeast Asia. It is one of the main Sinitic languages in the region and is spoken by millions of people around the world.

20. Vietnamese

85 million people.
Vietnamese is the official language.

The official language of Vietnam, Vietnamese is one of the most widely spoken languages in Southeast Asia. Since it has six different tones, it is difficult to learn for people who do not have Vietnamese as their first language.

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20 most spoken languages ​​in the world with current data