Learning another language means that you get the chance to experience a brand new life. It’s also the key to unlocking new opportunities and experiences. In this article, Thao & Co. introduces the top 20 most spoken languages in the world and offers suggestions on which ones might be worth learning.
Unsurprisingly, English is the most spoken language worldwide. It remains at the first spot with more than 1.5 billion speakers across the globe. Among these, around 370 million are native speakers, while approximately 1.1 billion people speak English as a second or foreign language.
English dominates international communication and is the most widely used language on the internet. Moreover, this language plays a crucial role in various fields, including politics, diplomacy, and education.
Below are the 20 most widely spoken languages in the world as of 2025, according to Ethnologue.
It goes without saying that English tops the list. It is the official language of several countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Additionally, English is used as a second language in over 100 countries.
Mandarin is the most widely spoken variety of Chinese and is the official language used in schools and government in China. This language becomes increasingly prevalent because of the large Chinese-speaking populations in Southeast Asia, the US, and other regions.
Alongside English, Hindi is one of the official languages of India. As the second most populous country in the world, India contributes a significant number of native Hindi speakers.
Spoken across 21 countries, Spanish not only dominates Latin America but also ranks as the world’s second most studied language after English.
Arabic is the official language used in the media and administrative affairs of over 20 countries worldwide. Another fun fact is that the Qur’an is written in Arabic, which gives the language profound religious significance for Muslims around the globe.
While French may not be as widely spoken as the top-ranking languages, it remains globally influential. It is the official language of:
French is also recognized as one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and is also spoken in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and the southern part of Assam. It evolved from Sanskrit and Prakrit and has been officially accorded the status of a “Classical Language” by the Indian government.
Although Portugal has a relatively small population, it is still spoken widely due to the country’s colonial past. During the era of the Portuguese Empire, the language spread to several countries like Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste, Macau, etc.
Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and a working language of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. To this day, Russian holds great importance in Eastern European and Central Asian countries.
As the national language of Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesian bridges communication across hundreds of ethnic groups. Its widespread use reflects the nation’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
Besides these top 10 languages, those ranked 11 to 20 on the list of most spoken languages in the world are as follows:
To help you better understand the global language landscape, here are answers to some frequently asked questions that may be of great help:
At the present time, the most widespread language in the world is English, with over 1.5 billion speakers. English is commonly used across various countries and industries, including:
- • International communication
- • Commerce and trade
- Science
- • Technology
- • Global education
- • And more
But if we are talking about the most spoken native language in the world, that title goes to Mandarin Chinese with more than 900 million native speakers.
The best language to study depends on your personal needs, preferences, and future goals, whether for academic purposes, cultural enrichment, or career advancement.
Here are some practical options worth considering:
According to Ethnologue, there are currently 7,159 living languages in use worldwide. However, 3,193 of them are at risk of disappearing, as they are spoken by very small populations or only by the elderly.
Despite this large number, only about 100 common languages are used by over 90% of the global population.
Some countries, such as the UK and Argentina, do not have an official language at the national level. This approach often reflects a commitment to respecting linguistic diversity and multicultural values within these societies.
Thao & Co. has walked you through the 20 most widely spoken languages in the world. Mastering one or more of these languages can be beneficial, whether you intend to study overseas, advance your career, or partner with international agencies and enterprises in today’s globalized business environment.
To support your journey, Thao & Co. offers professional translation and interpretation services across a wide range of languages. Our team of professional linguists is here to help you overcome language barriers for either common languages or niche dialects.
Chat with us directly on our website or fill in our Get A Quote form to get a free and detailed consultation.
