Languages

Overview of languages based on the approximate number of speakers worldwide.

871
Languages
238
Countries covered
141
Official languages

Language coverage

Distribution of languages by number of speakers

The chart below shows the number of speakers for the most widely spoken languages worldwide.

Coverage by country

English
≈ 1.8 bn
Mandarin Chinese
≈ 1.3 bn
Hindi
≈ 608 m
Spanish
≈ 515.6 m
Arabic
≈ 412.6 m
French
≈ 338.5 m
Urdu
≈ 323.1 m
Bengali
≈ 293.9 m
Portuguese
≈ 246.2 m
Panjabi
≈ 226.4 m
Russian
≈ 205.1 m
Swahili (macrolanguage)
≈ 202.2 m
Indonesian
≈ 184.6 m
German
≈ 138.4 m
Japanese
≈ 116.3 m
Telugu
≈ 106.3 m
Lahnda
≈ 103.7 m
Marathi
≈ 103.4 m
Javanese
≈ 98.3 m
Tamil
≈ 94.7 m
Persian
≈ 93 m
Vietnamese
≈ 87.9 m
Turkish
≈ 85.3 m
Wu Chinese
≈ 84.8 m
Yue Chinese
≈ 81.5 m
Korean
≈ 77.2 m
Egyptian Arabic
≈ 76.9 m
Filipino
≈ 71.5 m
Gujarati
≈ 68.5 m
Italian
≈ 66.7 m
Pushto
≈ 61.2 m
Thai
≈ 57.2 m
Kannada
≈ 54.6 m
Nigerian Pidgin
≈ 50.9 m
Malayalam
≈ 48.1 m
Oriya (macrolanguage)
≈ 47.3 m
Levantine Arabic
≈ 47.2 m
Amharic
≈ 45.8 m
Oromo
≈ 44.4 m
Hausa
≈ 44.3 m
Sindhi
≈ 42.7 m
Xiang Chinese
≈ 41 m
Polish
≈ 40.2 m
Min Nan Chinese
≈ 40 m
Algerian Arabic
≈ 39.9 m
Malay (macrolanguage)
≈ 38.3 m
Bhojpuri
≈ 36.1 m
Burmese
≈ 35.3 m
Hakka Chinese
≈ 35 m
Uzbek
≈ 34.9 m
Sundanese
≈ 34.5 m
Moroccan Arabic
≈ 33.7 m
Dutch
≈ 33.2 m
Azerbaijani
≈ 32.7 m
Yoruba
≈ 32.5 m
Sudanese Arabic
≈ 32.5 m
Igbo
≈ 31.5 m
Saraiki
≈ 31.1 m
Malagasy
≈ 30.2 m
Awadhi
≈ 28.7 m
Cebuano
≈ 28.3 m
Ukrainian
≈ 26.2 m
Somali
≈ 25.4 m
Gan Chinese
≈ 24 m
Bavarian
≈ 22.9 m
Nepali (macrolanguage)
≈ 21.4 m
Maithili
≈ 21 m
Chichewa
≈ 19.9 m
Romanian
≈ 19.3 m
Assamese
≈ 19.2 m
Madurese
≈ 18.1 m
Haryanvi
≈ 17.7 m
Magahi
≈ 17.7 m
Marwari
≈ 17.7 m
Northeastern Thai
≈ 17.2 m
Nigerian Fulfulde
≈ 16.2 m
Chhattisgarhi
≈ 16.2 m
Zulu
≈ 16.1 m
Khmer
≈ 16.1 m
Sinhala
≈ 15.9 m
Shona
≈ 14 m
Akan
≈ 13.9 m
Kazakh
≈ 13.7 m
Wolof
≈ 13.6 m
Swedish
≈ 13.4 m
Czech
≈ 12.9 m
Kinyarwanda
≈ 12.6 m
Quechua
≈ 12.5 m
Low German
≈ 12.1 m
Kurdish
≈ 12 m
Bambara
≈ 11.9 m
Hungarian
≈ 11.9 m
Xhosa
≈ 11.8 m
Umbundu
≈ 11.7 m
Rangpuri
≈ 11.6 m
Iloko
≈ 11.3 m
Luba-Lulua
≈ 11.2 m
Tunisian Arabic
≈ 11.2 m
Modern Greek (1453-)
≈ 11.2 m
Tajik
≈ 11 m
Afrikaans
≈ 10.9 m
Tigrinya
≈ 10.5 m
Kimbundu
≈ 10.1 m
Hassaniyya
≈ 10 m
Kikuyu
≈ 10 m
Hiligaynon
≈ 9.9 m
Mossi
≈ 9.8 m
Haitian
≈ 9.7 m
Hebrew
≈ 9.6 m
Fulah
≈ 9.5 m
Rundi
≈ 9.3 m
Baluchi
≈ 9.1 m
Sylheti
≈ 8.9 m
Turkmen
≈ 8.8 m
Minangkabau
≈ 8.6 m
Krio
≈ 8.5 m
Standard Moroccan Tamazight
≈ 8.5 m
Uighur
≈ 8.2 m
Catalan
≈ 8.2 m
Santali
≈ 8.1 m
Swiss German
≈ 7.9 m
Dyula
≈ 7.9 m
Tok Pisin
≈ 7.8 m
Bemba (Zambia)
≈ 7.7 m
Serbian
≈ 7.6 m
Southern Sotho
≈ 7.5 m
Danish
≈ 7.3 m
Coptic
≈ 7.2 m
Tswana
≈ 7 m
Mongolian
≈ 7 m
Bulgarian
≈ 6.9 m
Northern Thai
≈ 6.9 m
Ganda
≈ 6.9 m
Slovak
≈ 6.6 m
Luyia
≈ 6.4 m
Sukuma
≈ 6.3 m
Pedi
≈ 6.2 m
Kashmiri
≈ 6.1 m
Albanian
≈ 6 m
Betawi
≈ 6 m
Finnish
≈ 5.8 m
Tsonga
≈ 5.8 m
Central Kurdish
≈ 5.8 m
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)
≈ 5.7 m
Southern Thai
≈ 5.7 m
Guarani
≈ 5.7 m
Norwegian Bokmål
≈ 5.7 m
Norwegian
≈ 5.7 m
Croatian
≈ 5.6 m
Ewe
≈ 5.6 m
Lao
≈ 5.5 m
Balinese
≈ 5.2 m
Mainfränkisch
≈ 5 m
Zarma
≈ 4.9 m
Sidamo
≈ 4.9 m
Makhuwa
≈ 4.8 m
Konkani (macrolanguage)
≈ 4.7 m
Ndau
≈ 4.7 m
Mazanderani
≈ 4.7 m
Buginese
≈ 4.6 m
Kamba (Kenya)
≈ 4.5 m
Kalenjin
≈ 4.5 m
Northern Hindko
≈ 4.4 m
Mandingo
≈ 4.4 m
Zhuang
≈ 4.4 m
Liberian English
≈ 4.3 m
Banjar
≈ 4.3 m
Gilaki
≈ 4.3 m
Southern Kurdish
≈ 4.2 m
Achinese
≈ 4 m
Armenian
≈ 4 m
Tiv
≈ 3.9 m
Central Atlas Tamazight
≈ 3.8 m
Fon
≈ 3.8 m
Lingala
≈ 3.8 m
Kabyle
≈ 3.7 m
Lombard
≈ 3.7 m
Baoulé
≈ 3.7 m
Pattani Malay
≈ 3.6 m
Kirghiz
≈ 3.6 m
Shan
≈ 3.5 m
Bikol
≈ 3.5 m
Waray (Philippines)
≈ 3.4 m
Efik
≈ 3.4 m
Ibibio
≈ 3.4 m
Tachelhit
≈ 3.4 m
Brahui
≈ 3.4 m
Galician
≈ 3.3 m
Nyankole
≈ 3.3 m
Georgian
≈ 3.3 m
Aymara
≈ 3.1 m
Bosnian
≈ 3.1 m
Beja
≈ 2.9 m
Gusii
≈ 2.9 m
Chiga
≈ 2.8 m
Tibetan
≈ 2.8 m
Soga
≈ 2.8 m
Sango
≈ 2.8 m
West Albay Bikol
≈ 2.7 m
Pampanga
≈ 2.7 m
Jamaican Creole English
≈ 2.7 m
Luba-Katanga
≈ 2.7 m
Hazaragi
≈ 2.7 m
Afar
≈ 2.6 m
Swati
≈ 2.6 m
Mende (Sierra Leone)
≈ 2.5 m
Wolaytta
≈ 2.5 m
Tumbuka
≈ 2.5 m
Lomwe
≈ 2.5 m
Tonga (Zambia)
≈ 2.5 m
Lithuanian
≈ 2.4 m
Nyamwezi
≈ 2.4 m
Meru
≈ 2.3 m
Timne
≈ 2.3 m
Belarusian
≈ 2.3 m
Tamashek
≈ 2.3 m
Serer
≈ 2.1 m
Tarifit
≈ 2.1 m
North Ndebele
≈ 2.1 m
Teso
≈ 2.1 m
Masai
≈ 2 m
Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde
≈ 2 m
Tatar
≈ 2 m
Occitan (post 1500)
≈ 2 m
Lango (Uganda)
≈ 2 m
Maasina Fulfulde
≈ 2 m
Northern Luri
≈ 2 m
Acoli
≈ 2 m
Slovenian
≈ 1.9 m
Bashkir
≈ 1.9 m
Chuvash
≈ 1.9 m
Makonde
≈ 1.8 m
Dan
≈ 1.8 m
Abron
≈ 1.8 m
Domari
≈ 1.8 m
Kpelle
≈ 1.8 m
Scots
≈ 1.7 m
Kongo
≈ 1.7 m
Susu
≈ 1.7 m
Kekchí
≈ 1.7 m
Sena
≈ 1.7 m
Kaqchikel
≈ 1.7 m
Makhuwa-Meetto
≈ 1.6 m
Pangasinan
≈ 1.6 m
K'iche'
≈ 1.6 m
Hmong Daw
≈ 1.6 m
Masaaba
≈ 1.5 m
Soninke
≈ 1.5 m
Venda
≈ 1.5 m
Cebaara Senoufo
≈ 1.4 m
Fur
≈ 1.4 m
Norwegian Nynorsk
≈ 1.4 m
Maguindanaon
≈ 1.4 m
Bulu (Cameroon)
≈ 1.4 m
Macedonian
≈ 1.4 m
Venetian
≈ 1.3 m
Bakhtiari
≈ 1.3 m
Kita Maninkakan
≈ 1.3 m
Tausug
≈ 1.3 m
Irish
≈ 1.3 m
Farefare
≈ 1.2 m
Ronga
≈ 1.2 m
Lozi
≈ 1.2 m
Bena (Tanzania)
≈ 1.2 m
Shambala
≈ 1.2 m
Gheg Albanian
≈ 1.2 m
Zaza
≈ 1.2 m
Northern Khmer
≈ 1.2 m
Khasi
≈ 1.2 m
Vlaams
≈ 1.2 m
Morisyen
≈ 1.1 m
Manyika
≈ 1.1 m
Latvian
≈ 1.1 m
Southern Luri
≈ 1.1 m
Kuanyama
≈ 1.1 m
Adangme
≈ 1.1 m
Najdi Arabic
≈ 1.1 m
Chimborazo Highland Quichua
≈ 1.1 m
South Ndebele
≈ 1 m
Talysh
≈ 1 m
Mbunga
≈ 1 m
Limburgan
≈ 1 m
Fang (Equatorial Guinea)
≈ 1 m
Tooro
≈ 1 m
Sardinian
≈ 1 m
Ga
≈ 1000 k
Nepal Bhasa
≈ 978 k
Basque
≈ 957 k
Ewondo
≈ 950 k
Jumli
≈ 948 k
Chechen
≈ 946 k
Estonian
≈ 945 k
Kachin
≈ 938 k
Rohingya
≈ 938 k
Kalanga
≈ 915 k
Iban
≈ 910 k
Welsh
≈ 909 k
Koyraboro Senni Songhai
≈ 882 k
Embu
≈ 880 k
Yao
≈ 879 k
Mam
≈ 872 k
Asu (Tanzania)
≈ 871 k
Tetum
≈ 847 k
Swabian
≈ 836 k
Mon
≈ 828 k
Bassa
≈ 819 k
Yiddish
≈ 803 k
Western Frisian
≈ 793 k
Kara-Kalpak
≈ 792 k
N'Ko
≈ 772 k
Dotyali
≈ 741 k
Picard
≈ 734 k
Pijin
≈ 704 k
Nuer
≈ 696 k
Walloon
≈ 683 k
Nsenga
≈ 676 k
Gronings
≈ 664 k
Tigre
≈ 663 k
Ndonga
≈ 662 k
Piemontese
≈ 648 k
Lala-Bisa
≈ 631 k
Réunion Creole French
≈ 629 k
Asturian
≈ 622 k
Dangaura Tharu
≈ 593 k
Grebo
≈ 579 k
Avaric
≈ 559 k
Maltese
≈ 549 k
Udmurt
≈ 545 k
Parsi-Dari
≈ 541 k
Dhivehi
≈ 520 k
Jola-Fonyi
≈ 504 k
Silesian
≈ 492 k
Yemba
≈ 490 k
Kabuverdianu
≈ 481 k
Rusyn
≈ 474 k
Khmu
≈ 462 k
Luxembourgish
≈ 460 k
Yakut
≈ 459 k
Kabardian
≈ 445 k
Erzya
≈ 445 k
Bantawa
≈ 444 k
Koyra Chiini Songhay
≈ 441 k
Sranan Tongo
≈ 439 k
Negeri Sembilan Malay
≈ 437 k
Ghomálá'
≈ 429 k
Ngiemboon
≈ 429 k
Kaonde
≈ 428 k
Lunda
≈ 428 k
Mano
≈ 421 k
Mingrelian
≈ 418 k
Icelandic
≈ 402 k
Kom (Cameroon)
≈ 398 k
Western Tamang
≈ 385 k
Fiji Hindi
≈ 384 k
Dzongkha
≈ 377 k
Basa (Cameroon)
≈ 368 k
Bamun
≈ 368 k
Pontic
≈ 366 k
Fijian
≈ 365 k
Nzima
≈ 357 k
Rana Tharu
≈ 356 k
Khoekhoe
≈ 347 k
Luvale
≈ 338 k
Medumba
≈ 337 k
Ngazidja Comorian
≈ 333 k
Limbu
≈ 326 k
Eastern Magar
≈ 326 k
Buriat
≈ 315 k
Bislama
≈ 308 k
Mundang
≈ 306 k
Ndzwani Comorian
≈ 306 k
Maore Comorian
≈ 305 k
Moksha
≈ 301 k
Mapudungun
≈ 299 k
Kochila Tharu
≈ 296 k
Saafi-Saafi
≈ 290 k
Western Cham
≈ 289 k
Herero
≈ 287 k
Kumyk
≈ 287 k
Tomo Kan Dogon
≈ 285 k
Samoan
≈ 265 k
Xaasongaxango
≈ 259 k
Zeeuws
≈ 258 k
Komi
≈ 258 k
Lezghian
≈ 258 k
Southern Kisi
≈ 252 k
Hmong Njua
≈ 247 k
Karachay-Balkar
≈ 244 k
Papiamento
≈ 241 k
Punu
≈ 238 k
Hiri Motu
≈ 230 k
Ingush
≈ 229 k
Q'anjob'al
≈ 228 k
Poqomchi'
≈ 228 k
Vai
≈ 222 k
Belize Kriol English
≈ 214 k
Achi
≈ 209 k
Tuvinian
≈ 186 k
Bandi
≈ 170 k
Ixil
≈ 169 k
Latgalian
≈ 163 k
Bube
≈ 157 k
Mandjak
≈ 149 k
Maori
≈ 148 k
Saho
≈ 133 k
Seselwa Creole French
≈ 131 k
Ifè
≈ 129 k
Adyghe
≈ 126 k
Ladino
≈ 125 k
Tshangla
≈ 120 k
Balanta-Ganja
≈ 118 k
Lak
≈ 112 k
Mankanya
≈ 100 k
Tonga (Tonga Islands)
≈ 98 k
Gagauz
≈ 98 k
Tahitian
≈ 88 k
Abkhazian
≈ 84 k
Iron Ossetic
≈ 84 k
Gilbertese
≈ 83 k
Guianese Creole French
≈ 83 k
Bushi
≈ 80 k
Scottish Gaelic
≈ 77 k
Võro
≈ 76 k
Komi-Permyak
≈ 65 k
Kalaallisut
≈ 53 k
Faroese
≈ 53 k
Kashubian
≈ 49 k
Bilin
≈ 48 k
Noon
≈ 46 k
Romansh
≈ 45 k
Chamorro
≈ 45 k
Inuktitut
≈ 45 k
Chuukese
≈ 34 k
Lepcha
≈ 31 k
Hawaiian
≈ 31 k
Pohnpeian
≈ 26 k
Marshallese
≈ 26 k
Chortí
≈ 25 k
Bassari
≈ 19 k
Sanskrit
≈ 18 k
Mopán Maya
≈ 17 k
Northern Sami
≈ 16 k
Plains Cree
≈ 13 k
Chipewyan
≈ 13 k
Palauan
≈ 13 k
Roviana
≈ 12 k
Sacapulteco
≈ 10 k
Northern Frisian
≈ 10 k
Kosraean
≈ 9 k
Uspanteco
≈ 9 k
Nauru
≈ 8 k
Garifuna
≈ 8 k
Tuvalu
≈ 8 k
Yapese
≈ 8 k
Wallisian
≈ 6 k
Xinca
≈ 5 k
Ménik
≈ 3 k
Ulithian
≈ 3 k
East Futuna
≈ 3 k
Virgin Islands Creole English
≈ 3 k
Slave (Athapascan)
≈ 2 k
Tlicho
≈ 2 k
Manx
≈ 2 k
Tokelau
≈ 1 k
Walser
≈ 1 k
Skolt Sami
≈ 618
Niuean
≈ 560
Gwichʼin
≈ 324

Note: The total number of speakers shown here is lower than the current world population. This overview includes major languages with available and comparable estimates and does not account for multilingual speakers or smaller languages. The data is intended to illustrate relative scale and global distribution rather than a complete population count.