The top languages in the world according to population

Language shapes our relationships and communications, both personal and professional. If you’re expanding your business’s reach across borders, it helps to know which are the top languages in the world.

But what determines the top spoken languages in the world? Is it the number of first-language speakers? Do second-language speakers count?

These stats matter, but a language’s use in trade, science, and diplomacy also come into play. Trusted language resources like Ethnologue rank languages by their native speakers and their worldwide utility. It’s this combination of influence and accessibility that sets common languages like English and Mandarin apart.

This guide will cover the most popular languages worldwide, explore leading languages in business and science, and show you how to translate your brand into these common languages, giving your business access to international markets.

The 10 most popular languages worldwide

These are the world’s most popular languages, ranked according to the total number of speakers, considering both first- and second-language speakers:

1. English

• First-language speakers: 380 million
• Second-language speakers: 1.14 billion
• Total speakers: 1.52 billion

English is the language spoken by the most people in the world, including native and non-native speakers. It’s an official language in 57 countries and spoken in 186 countries, making it also the most widely spread language globally. Its widespread use is further evidenced by its dominance on the internet, with around half of all websites using it for their content.

Despite its global dominance, English varies significantly worldwide, with vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar differences. These variations have led to distinct dialects like British, North American, and Australian English.

2. Mandarin Chinese

• First-language speakers: 941 million
• Second-language speakers: 199 million
• Total speakers: 1.14 billion

Mandarin is the most spoken native language in the world, with around 941 million people speaking it as their first language. Including second-language speakers, the total reaches 1.14 billion, making it the world’s second most popular language after English. It’s currently spoken in over 83 countries worldwide and is the official language of China and Taiwan and one of the four official languages of Singapore. Mandarin’s growing use is primarily thanks to China’s expanding influence in business, culture, and international affairs.

3. Hindi

• First-language speakers: 345 million
• Second-language speakers: 264 million
• Total speakers: 609 million

Hindi is one of India’s official languages and serves as a unifying dialect across the nation’s diverse regions. Beyond India, Hindi is spoken in countries like Nepal, Fiji, and Mauritius, reflecting its global reach. The language’s prominence is amplified by India’s growing influence in international affairs, making Hindi an important language on the world stage.

1. Spanish

• First-language speakers: 486 million
• Second-language speakers: 74 million
• Total speakers: 560 million

Spanish is the official language in 21 countries, including Spain, Mexico, and much of Central and South America. It’s also widely spoken in the United States, which has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world after Mexico, with up to 60 million speakers. The language’s global reach is expanding, fueled by the popularity of Spanish-language music, cinema, and literature, which have captivated audiences around the globe.

4. Modern Standard Arabic

• First-language speakers: 0 (Arabic speakers typically learn their localized language first)
• Second-language speakers: 332 million
• Total speakers: 332 million

Arabic is the official language in 24 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iraq, and Morocco. Its influence began in the 7th century as Islam grew in popularity, spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Modern Standard Arabic was developed as a formalized version of the language to standardize communication across Arabic-speaking nations. Although Arabic speakers learn their localized language first, Modern Standard Arabic bridges the various regional dialects, making it one of the world’s most commonly used languages.

5. French

• First-language speakers: 74 million
• Second-language speakers: 238 million
• Total speakers: 312 million

French is spoken by hundreds of millions of first- and second-language speakers. It’s an official language in 29 countries, making it the second-most-used official language worldwide after English.

The language spread globally through France’s colonial expansion from the 17th to 20th centuries, establishing a presence in regions across Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Today, French is commonly spoken in countries such as France, Canada (particularly Quebec), Belgium, Switzerland, and several African nations, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ivory Coast.

6. Bengali

• First-language speakers: 237 million
• Second-language speakers: 41 million
• Total speakers: 278 million

Bengali is the native language of Bangladesh. It’s also widely spoken in parts of India, particularly in the state of West Bengal, as well as in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Bengali has significant cultural and historical importance, as it played a central role in Bangladesh’s fight for independence in 1971.

In October 2024, Bengali was recognized as a classical language by the Indian government. It’s the second most spoken language in India after Hindi and one of the fastest-growing, reflecting its increasing importance across the region.

7. Portuguese

• First-language speakers: 236 million
• Second-language speakers: 27 million
• Total speakers: 264 million

Portuguese is the official language of 10 countries, including Brazil, Portugal, Angola, and Mozambique. It spread worldwide during colonial times, leaving its mark in South America, Africa, and Asia. Today, it’s the most spoken language in South America and the Southern Hemisphere and the second-most spoken Romance language after Spanish. Portuguese also plays a major role in international organizations, connecting Lusophone nations around the globe.

8. Russian

• First-language speakers: 148 million
• Second-language speakers: 108 million
• Total speakers: 255 million

Russian is an official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It’s the most spoken native language in Europe and the most widespread language in Eurasia. The Russian language’s rich literary heritage and significant geopolitical influence secured its spot as one of the six official languages of the United Nations (UN). It’s also used in prominent organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

9. Urdu

• First-language speakers: 70 million
• Second-language speakers: 168 million
• Total speakers: 238 million

Urdu is Pakistan’s national language and holds official status in several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal. Emerging during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, Urdu developed through the blending of local Hindustani dialects with Persian, Arabic, and Turkish influences. Urdu’s growing influence is fueled by its presence in South Asian cinema, such as Bollywood films, where Urdu script and dialogue are widely used.

Which is the main language of business?

English stands out in the global economy as the most-known language in business. Over 95% of employers in countries where English isn’t an official language consider English skills important for their business. It’s an official language of many multinational organizations, including the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank. English’s dominance is tied to historical factors, like the global influence of the British Empire and, later, the economic power of the United States.

However, as global markets evolve, other common languages are gaining prominence. Mandarin Chinese, spoken by over 1 billion, is becoming increasingly important due to China’s significant role in international trade. Similarly, Spanish is quickly gaining ground, with nearly 500 million native speakers and growing. Businesses targeting international markets should consider creating a multilingual marketing strategy with optimized SEO to effectively connect with local markets.

Translate your brand into the world’s top languages with Smartling

English dominates the business world, with over 1.5 billion speakers. However, popular and growing languages like Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and Hindi open the doors to billions of potential customers in China, Latin America, and South Asia. The challenge lies in delivering the right message in the right language.

Smartling’s AI translation services help businesses break language barriers. These solutions blend the power of large language models, neural machine translation, and just the right amount of human expertise. Whether you’re localizing your website, marketing campaigns, or product manuals, Smartling helps you adapt your content for global audiences, saving you time and money while maintaining outstanding quality.

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