The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2002 to 2025 World
Languages World, in 24 editions.
The entry for World published Languages in 24 editions of 36, from 2002 to 2025. The text changed in 20 editions. Each is shown as published. Languages in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 20
- the first edition with it
- 2002
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Languages” (2002 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2006 edition
Changed since 2005The same text in 3 editions, 2002 to 2004.
- Chinese,
- Mandarin 14.37%,
- Hindi 6.02%,
- English 5.61%,
- Spanish 5.59%,
- Bengali 3.4%,
- Portuguese 2.63%,
- Russian 2.75%,
- Japanese 2.06%,
- German,
- Standard 1.64%,
- Korean 1.28%,
- French 1.27% (2000 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Chinese, Mandarin 14.37%, Hindi 6.02%, English 5.61%, Spanish 5.59%, Bengali 3.4%, Portuguese 2.63%, Russian 2.75%, Japanese 2.06%, German, Standard 1.64%, Korean 1.28%, French 1.27% (2000 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
- Chinese,
- Mandarin 13.69%,
- Spanish 5.05%,
- English 4.84%,
- Hindi 2.82%,
- Portuguese 2.77%,
- Bengali 2.68%,
- Russian 2.27%,
- Japanese 1.99%,
- German,
- Standard 1.49%,
- Chinese,
- Wu 1.21% (2004 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Chinese, Mandarin 14.37%, Hindi 6.02%, English 5.61%, 13.69%, Spanish 5.59%, Bengali 3.4%, 5.05%, English 4.84%, Hindi 2.82%, Portuguese 2.63%, 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.75%, 2.27%, Japanese 2.06%, 1.99%, German, Standard 1.64%, Korean 1.28%, French 1.27% (2000 1.49%, Chinese, Wu 1.21% (2004 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Chinese, Mandarin Chinese 13.69%, Spanish 5.05%, English 4.84%, Hindi 2.82%, Portuguese 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.27%, Japanese 1.99%, German, Standard German 1.49%, Chinese, Wu Chinese 1.21% (2004 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only and therefore do not add to 100%
Mandarin Chinese 13.69%, Spanish 5.05%, English 4.84%, Arabic 3.23%, Hindi 2.82%, Portuguese 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.27%, Japanese 1.99%, Standard German 1.49%, Wu Chinese 1.21% (2004 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only and therefore do not add to 100%
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Mandarin Chinese 13.69%, 13.22%, Spanish 5.05%, 4.88%, English 4.84%, 4.68%, Arabic 3.23%, 3.12%, Hindi 2.82%, 2.74%, Portuguese 2.77%, 2.69%, Bengali 2.68%, 2.59%, Russian 2.27%, 2.2%, Japanese 1.99%, 1.85%, Standard German 1.49%, Wu Chinese 1.21% (2004 1.44%, French 1.2% (2005 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only and therefore do not add to 100%
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Mandarin Chinese 13.22%, Spanish 4.88%, English 4.68%, Arabic 3.12%, Hindi 2.74%, Portuguese 2.69%, Bengali 2.59%, Russian 2.2%, Japanese 1.85%, Standard German 1.44%, French 1.2% (2005 est.)
note:
percents are for "first language" speakers only
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Mandarin Chinese 13.22%, 12.65%, Spanish 4.88%, 4.93%, English 4.68%, 4.91%, Arabic 3.12%, 3.31%, Hindi 2.74%, Portuguese 2.69%, 2.73%, Bengali 2.59%, 2.71%, Portuguese 2.67%, Russian 2.2%, 2.16%, Japanese 1.85%, 1.83%, Standard German 1.44%, French 1.2% (2005 1.35%, Javanese 1.27% (2008 est.)
note:
percents are for "first language" speakers only
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world
Rewritten: too little of the 2010 text remains to mark the changes.
Mandarin Chinese 12.44%, Spanish 4.85%, English 4.83%, Arabic 3.25%, Hindi 2.68%, Bengali 2.66%, Portuguese 2.62%, Russian 2.12%, Japanese 1.8%, Standard German 1.33%, Javanese 1.25% (2009 est.)
note:
percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; all told, there are about 6,900 languages spoken in the world
Mandarin Chinese 12.44%, Spanish 4.85%, English 4.83%, Arabic 3.25%, Hindi 2.68%, Bengali 2.66%, Portuguese 2.62%, Russian 2.12%, Japanese 1.8%, Standard German 1.33%, Javanese 1.25% (2009 est.)
note:
percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; all told, there are about 6,900 languages spoken in the world
note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 languages have more than a million speakers
note 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 50 languages are spoken by only 1 person; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 836 separate languages
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,150, in Africa, 1,311 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 in Europe
Mandarin Chinese 12.44%, Spanish 4.85%, English 4.83%, Arabic 3.25%, Hindi 2.68%, Bengali 2.66%, Portuguese 2.62%, Russian 2.12%, Japanese 1.8%, Standard German 1.33%, Javanese 1.25% (2009 est.)note: note 1:
percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 languages have more than a million speakers
note 2:
all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 6,900 50 languages are spoken by only 1 person; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 836 separate languages
note 3:
approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,150, in Africa, 1,311 in the world Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 in Europe
note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 languages have more than a million speakers
note 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 50 languages are spoken by only 1 person; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 836 separate languages
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,150, in Africa, 1,300 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 in Europe
Mandarin Chinese 12.44%, Spanish 4.85%, English 4.83%, Arabic 3.25%, Hindi 2.68%, Bengali 2.66%, Portuguese 2.62%, Russian 2.12%, Japanese 1.8%, Standard German 1.33%, Javanese 1.25% (2009 est.)
note 1:
percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 languages have more than a million speakers
note 2:
all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 50 languages are spoken by only 1 person; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 836 separate languages
note 3:
approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,150, in Africa, 1,311 1,300 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 in Europe
note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 languages have more than a million speakers
note 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 140 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 839 separate languages
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,300 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 in Europe (2015)
Mandarin Chinese 12.44%, 11.82%, Spanish 4.85%, 5.77%, English 4.83%, Arabic 3.25%, 4.67%, Hindi 2.68%, Bengali 2.66%, 3.62%, Arabic 3.3%, Portuguese 2.62%, 2.83%, Bengali 2.69%, Russian 2.12%, 2.33%, Japanese 1.8%, 1.7%, Javanese 1.15%, Standard German 1.33%, Javanese 1.25% (2009 1.09% (2014 est.)
note 1:percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 languages have more than a million speakers
note 2:all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 50 140 languages are spoken by only 1 person; less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 836 839 separate languages
note 3:approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,150, 2,140, in Africa, 1,300 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 in Europe (2015)
The same text in 2016 and 2017.
- Mandarin Chinese 12.2%,
- Spanish 5.8%,
- English 4.6%,
- Arabic 3.6%,
- Hindi 3.6%,
- Portuguese 2.8%,
- Bengali 2.6%,
- Russian 2.3%,
- Japanese 1.7%,
- Punjabi,
- Western 1.2%,
- Javanese 1.2% (2016 est.)
note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 300 languages have more than a million first-language speakers
note 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 130 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2016)
Mandarin Chinese 11.82%, 12.2%, Spanish 5.77%, 5.8%, English 4.67%, Hindi 3.62%, 4.6%, Arabic 3.3%, 3.6%, Hindi 3.6%, Portuguese 2.83%, 2.8%, Bengali 2.69%, 2.6%, Russian 2.33%, 2.3%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.2%, Javanese 1.15%, Standard German 1.09% (2014 1.2% (2016 est.)
note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 150 to 200 300 languages have more than a million first-language speakers
note 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; aproximately approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 140 130 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 839 840 separate languages
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,300 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 280 290 in Europe (2015) (2016)
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only;
- the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world;
- some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers note 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world;
- approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people;
- about 150 languages are spoken by less than 10 people;
- communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages;
- Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2018)
Mandarin Chinese 12.2%, 12.3%, Spanish 5.8%, 6%, English 4.6%, 5.1%, Arabic 3.6%, 5.1%, Hindi 3.6%, Portuguese 2.8%, 3.5%, Bengali 2.6%, 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.3%, 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.2%, 1.3%, Javanese 1.2% (2016 1.1% (2018 est.)note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about half 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 300 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakersnote 2: all told, there are an estimated 7,100 languages spoken in the world; approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 130 150 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languagesnote 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2016) (2018)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,100 languages spoken in the world; approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2019) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2019)
most-spoken language: English 15.1%, Mandarin Chinese 14.9%, Hindi 8.2%, Spanish 7.1%, French 3.7%, Arabic 3.7%, Bengali 3.5%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.1%, Indonesian 2.7% (2019 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: percents are for "first language" speakers only; the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are an estimated to be just over 7,100 languages spoken in the world; approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2019) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2018) (2019)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,115 languages spoken in the world (2020); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
most-spoken language: English 15.1%, 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.9%, 14.6%, Hindi 8.2%, 8.3%, Spanish 7.1%, 7%, French 3.7%, 3.6%, Arabic 3.7%, 3.6%, Bengali 3.5%, 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.1%, 3.3%, Indonesian 2.7% (2019 2.6% (2020 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,100 7,115 languages spoken in the world; world (2020); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by less than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2019) (2018) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2019) (2020)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%,
- Spanish 6%,
- English 5.1%,
- Arabic 5.1%,
- Hindi 3.5%,
- Bengali 3.3%,
- Portuguese 3%,
- Russian 2.1%,
- Japanese 1.7%,
- Punjabi,
- Western 1.3%,
- Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,115 languages spoken in the world (2020); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
most-spoken language: English 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, Hindi 8.3%, Spanish 7%, French 3.6%, Arabic 3.6%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,115 languages spoken in the world (2020); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by less fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%,
- Spanish 6%,
- English 5.1%,
- Arabic 5.1%,
- Hindi 3.5%,
- Bengali 3.3%,
- Portuguese 3%,
- Russian 2.1%,
- Japanese 1.7%,
- Punjabi,
- Western 1.3%,
- Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
most-spoken language: English 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, Hindi 8.3%, Spanish 7%, French 3.6%, Arabic 3.6%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,115 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2020); (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%,
- Spanish 6%,
- English 5.1%,
- Arabic 5.1%,
- Hindi 3.5%,
- Bengali 3.3%,
- Portuguese 3%,
- Russian 2.1%,
- Japanese 1.7%,
- Punjabi,
- Western 1.3%,
- Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
most-spoken language: English 16.5%, 18.8%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, 13.8%, Hindi 8.3%, 7.5%, Spanish 7%, 6.9%, French 3.6%, 3.4%, Arabic 3.6%, 3.4%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, 3.2%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 3.2%, Urdu 2.9% (2022 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% 49.6% of the world's population, population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%,
- Spanish 6%,
- English 5.1%,
- Arabic 5.1%,
- Hindi 3.5%,
- Bengali 3.3%,
- Portuguese 3%,
- Russian 2.1%,
- Japanese 1.7%,
- Punjabi,
- Western 1.3%,
- Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be 7,168 living languages spoken in the world (2023); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
most-spoken language: English 18.8%, Mandarin Chinese 13.8%, Hindi 7.5%, Spanish 6.9%, French 3.4%, Arabic 3.4%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.2%, Portuguese 3.2%, Urdu 2.9% (2022 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 7,168 living languages spoken in the world (2022); (2023); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
- most-spoken language:
- most-spoken first language:
- Mandarin Chinese 12.3%,
- Spanish 6%,
- English 5.1%,
- Arabic 5.1%,
- Hindi 3.5%,
- Bengali 3.3%,
- Portuguese 3%,
- Russian 2.1%,
- Japanese 1.7%,
- Punjabi,
- Western 1.3%,
- Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages -- Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) -- are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be 7,168 living languages spoken in the world (2023); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by fewer than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages -- Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia; 2,140, in Africa; 1,310 in the Pacific; 1,060 in the Americas; and 290 in Europe (2020)
most-spoken language: English 18.8%, Mandarin Chinese 13.8%, Hindi 7.5%, Spanish 6.9%, French 3.4%, Arabic 3.4%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.2%, Portuguese 3.2%, Urdu 2.9% (2022 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)
note 1: the six UN languages - -- Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - -- are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)
note 2: all told, there are estimated to be 7,168 living languages spoken in the world (2023); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less fewer than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; languages -- Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)
note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, Asia; 2,140, in Africa, Africa; 1,310 in the Pacific, Pacific; 1,060 in the Americas, Americas; and 290 in Europe (2020)
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Central Intelligence Agency. “World: Languages.” The World Factbook, 2002–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/world/languages.