Language is the cornerstone of human communication, culture, and identity. It serves as a powerful tool for expressing thoughts, sharing ideas, and connecting with others. As our world becomes more interconnected, understanding the most spoken languages is essential for global communication, business, and cultural appreciation. In this article, we will explore the 27 most spoken languages in the world as of 2023, shedding light on their significance and prevalence.
Mandarin Chinese
Native Number of Speakers: 939 million
Language Spoken Region: Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore
Mandarin Chinese continues to top the list as the most spoken language, largely due to China’s immense population.
Spanish
Native Number of Speakers: 485 million
Language Spoken Region: Spain, Latin America
Spanish is the second most spoken language globally, with a strong presence in Latin America and Spain.
English
Native Number of Speakers: 380 million, but over 1.5 billion who speak it as a second language.
Language Spoken Region: Worldwide
English is a global lingua franca, widely used in business, education, and international relations.
Hindi
Native Number of Speakers: 345 million
Language Spoken Region: India, Fiji, Mauritius, Suriname
Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India and is growing in prominence globally.
Also Read : 15 Most Spoken Languages in India by Number of Speakers
Portuguese
Native Number of Speakers: Approximately 236 million
Language Spoken Region: Portugal, Brazil, several African countries
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and Portugal, with a growing presence in Africa.
Bengali
Native Number of Speakers: 234 million
Language Spoken Region: Bangladesh, India, Bengali diaspora
Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.
Russian
Native Number of Speakers: 147 million
Language Spoken Region: Russia, former Soviet states
Russian remains an important language in the post-Soviet space.
Japanese
Native Number of Speakers: 123 million
Language Spoken Region: Japan, Japanese diaspora
Japanese is the official language of Japan, known for its unique writing system and culture.
Yue Chinese (incl. Cantonese)
Native Number of Speakers: 86.1 million
Language Spoken Region: Guangdong, Guangxi, Guangzhou (Canton), Hong Kong, Macau
Yue is a variety of Chinese spoken mainly in Guangdong (廣東), Hong Kong (香港), Guangxi (廣西), and Macau (澳門).
Vietnamese
Native Number of Speakers: 85 million
Language Spoken Region: Vietnam, Vietnamese diaspora
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam.
Turkish
Native Number of Speakers: 84 million
Language Spoken Region: Turkey, Cyprus
Turkish is the official language of Turkey and holds cultural significance.
Wu Chinese (incl. Shanghainese)
Native Number of Speakers: 83.4 million
Language Spoken Region: Zhejiang province, Shanghai, southern Jiangsu province, Anhui, Jiangxi provinces
Wu is a major group of Sinitic languages spoken primarily in Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, and the part of Jiangsu Province south of the Yangtze River, which makes up the cultural region of Wu.
Marathi
Native Number of Speakers: Around 83.2 million
Language Spoken Region: India, Marathi diaspora
Marathi is the official language of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Telugu
Native Number of Speakers: 83.0 million
Language Spoken Region: India, Telugu diaspora
Telugu is a prominent language in southern India.
Korean
Native Number of Speakers: 81.7 million
Language Spoken Region: South Korea, North Korea, Korean diaspora
Korean is the official language of both North and South Korea.
French
Native Number of Speakers: 80.8 million, but over 275 million who speak it as a second language.
Language Spoken Region: France, Canada, various African countries
French is widely spoken in Africa, and its influence extends across many continents.
Tamil
Native Number of Speakers: Around 78.6 million
Language Spoken Region: India, Sri Lanka, Tamil diaspora
Tamil is one of the classical languages of India.
Egyptian Spoken Arabic (excl. Saʽidi Arabic)
Native Number of Speakers: Over 77.4 million
Language Spoken Region: Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
Egyptian Arabic, locally known as Colloquial Egyptian or simply Masri (also Masry) (مَصرى), is the most widely spoken vernacular Arabic dialect in Egypt.
German
Native Number of Speakers: 75.3 million
Language Spoken Region: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
German is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union.
Urdu (excl. Hindi)
Native Number of Speakers: Approximately 70.6 million
Language Spoken Region: Pakistan, India, Urdu diaspora
Urdu is the official language of Pakistan and holds cultural importance in India.
Javanese
Native Number of Speakers: Around 68.3 million
Language Spoken Region: Indonesia
Javanese is the most widely spoken language in Indonesia.
Western Punjabi (excl. Eastern Punjabi)
Native Number of Speakers: 66.7 million
Language Spoken Region: India, Pakistan, Punjabi diaspora
Punjabi is widely spoken in India and Pakistan and has a strong presence in the Punjabi diaspora.
Italian
Native Number of Speakers: Around 64.6 million
Language Spoken Region: Italy, Italian diaspora
Italian is known for its rich culture and history.
Gujarati
Native Number of Speakers: Around 57.1 million
Language Spoken Region: India, Gujarati diaspora
Gujarati is spoken mainly in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Arabic
Number of Speakers: Over 310 million
Language Spoken Region: Middle East, North Africa
Arabic is the official language of 26 countries and holds immense cultural and religious significance.
Iranian Persian (excl. Dari and Tajik)
Number Number of Speakers: Over 57.2 million
Language Spoken Region: Iran, Iraq, The Persian Gulf states
Iranian Persian (Persian, Western Persian, or Farsi) is spoken in Iran, and by minorities in Iraq and the Persian Gulf states.
Bhojpuri
Number Number of Speakers: Over 52.3 million
Language Spoken Region: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Asia
Bhojpuri is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Bhojpur-Purvanchal region of India and the Terai region of Nepal.
Hausa
Number Number of Speakers: Over 51.7 million
Language Spoken Region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Germany, Ghana, Niger, Sudan, and Togo
Hausa is one of Africa’s most commonly spoken languages after Portuguese, French, English, Swahili and Arabic.
Conclusion
Language diversity is a testament to the rich tapestry of human culture and history. The 27 most spoken languages in the world in 2023 reflect the global distribution of linguistic communities and provide a glimpse into the interconnectedness of our world. As we continue to communicate, collaborate, and appreciate different cultures, these languages play a pivotal role in shaping our global society.
