Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2025

Learning a new language can open many doors, but what is the most useful language to learn in 2025? One thing to look at is the world’s most spoken languages. Picking up a language that is widely spoken around the globe will be more useful than going for a more niche option.

But what are the most spoken languages in the world? In this article, we’re going to rank the biggest languages in 2025 and dive into their global influence.

Top 10 Languages by Total Number of Speakers

The most popular languages in the world aren’t necessarily those with the most native speakers. In fact, some of the biggest languages are so widespread because of their large number of L2 (or second language) speakers.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 most spoken languages in the world by total number of speakers.

1. English

English is the most spoken language in the world if we look at the total number of speakers, which is 1,528 million. 

This likely doesn’t come as a surprise to you. English has pretty much taken over the globe. All over the Western world, children learn it from a very young age, while adults keep trying to perfect their grammar.

But English is also widely spoken in parts of Asia and Africa, making it a truly global language. Just think about it: The current world population is around 8 billion, which means that almost 20% of the world speaks English. That’s no small feat.

2. Mandarin Chinese

The most spoken language in China is Mandarin Chinese, but it is also spoken by people outside of China. Overall, there are 1,184 million speakers of the language.

Many people choose to learn Mandarin because of the career opportunities that speaking this language can unlock. China is an important player in the global market, and for anyone interested in business, Mandarin is the perfect language to learn.

3. Hindi

Hindi is the official language of India, though it’s also spoken by millions of people in other countries. The total number of those speaking Hindi is 609 million.

As a language, Hindi is very diverse. It has many different dialects that can broadly be divided into Eastern and Western. 

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While Hindi isn’t commonly spoken throughout the Western world, its influence can still be seen in global pop culture, especially through Bollywood films, music, and literature.

4. Spanish

Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world, with a total number of 558 million speakers. It’s spoken all over Latin America, as well as in Europe. 

Due to how popular Spanish is, many choose to learn it for better career and travel opportunities. Spanish-language media is also very popular, especially when it comes to music, social media, and telenovelas.

5. Standard Arabic

Modern Standard Arabic (or MSA) is spoken by 335 million people worldwide, none of whom are native speakers. Interestingly enough, it’s one of those rare languages that people only learn a little later in life.

Arabic has many dialects, and those are the ones that children learn as they grow up. Most of these kids will still learn MSA later on, but it’s not a language they use in everyday conversations. While MSA is one of the most popular languages in the world, it’s only used in certain contexts. It’s mostly a language that you’ll see in the news, on TV, or in academia. 

6. French

There are 312 million speakers of French in the world. It’s a popular choice of second or third language to learn in Europe, due to its use by international organizations such as the EU, UN, and NATO.

But French isn’t just spoken in Europe. You’ll also come across it in Canada, as well as some parts of Africa. It’s a great language to learn for those interested in travelling the world or working internationally.

7. Bengali

It may surprise you that Bengali is one of the most spoken languages in the world. That’s because, while there are 284 million people who speak Bengali, most of them are native speakers. Not many people decide to study Bengali, but that doesn’t make it any less significant as a language.

Bengali is spoken in the Bengal region of South Asia, which includes Bangladesh and parts of India. It’s a beautiful language with a long and rich history and a great literary tradition.

8. Portuguese

Portuguese is spoken all over the world, with its 266 million speakers being spread throughout Europe, Latin America, Africa, and even Asia. It’s the third most spoken Romance language in the world, after French and Spanish. It’s so widespread due to factors such as migration, globalization, and the historical expansion of the former Portuguese Empire.

9. Indonesian

Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, and it’s spoken by 252 million speakers worldwide. It serves as a lingua franca within the Indonesian archipelago, meaning that it’s the language people from that area use to communicate with each other, even if it isn’t their mother tongue. 

For most, Indonesian is a second language, but one they use fairly regularly.

10. Urdu

Last but not least, we have Urdu, which has a total number of 246 million speakers. It’s the official language and the lingua franca of Pakistan, but it’s also spoken in other countries across South Asia, including India.

As a language, Urdu is closely related to Hindi. The two are actually mutually intelligible, meaning that a speaker of Urdu can understand someone who speaks Hindi.

Top 10 Languages by Number of Native Speakers

Now that we know what the most spoken languages by total number of speakers are, let’s take a look at how the list differs when we consider the number of native speakers only. Naturally, there are some differences, as languages such as Standard Arabic or Indonesian don’t have many (or any) native speakers at all. 

1. Mandarin Chinese

• Number of native speakers: 990 million

2. Spanish

• Number of native speakers: 484 million

Native speakers of Spanish can be found all around the world. To learn more about the different Spanish accents, check out this video by Language of Earth:

3. English

• Number of native speakers: 390 million

English may be the most spoken language in the world when we look at the total number of speakers, but only about 25% of those who speak English are native speakers.

4. Hindi

• Number of native speakers: 345 million

5. Portuguese 

• Number of native speakers: 250 million

6. Bengali

• Number of native speakers: 242 million

Bengali ranks in the top 10 of most spoken languages in the world, both by total number of speakers and by native speakers, which may come as a surprise to some, as it’s more of a local than a global language.

7. Japanese

• Number of native speakers: 124 million

Japanese is the first language to appear on this list that doesn’t rank among the top 10 most spoken languages in the world by total number of speakers. However, thanks to the rising popularity of Japanese culture, more and more people have been picking up Japanese over the last couple of years.

8. Western Punjabi

• Number of native speakers: 90 million

Western Punjabi is also known as Lahnda, and it’s spoken in Pakistani Punjab, as well as parts of India. It’s a diverse language that has many different dialects across different regions.

9. Vietnamese

• Number of native speakers: 86 million

Next, we have Vietnamese, which is the official language of Vietnam. It’s also recognized as an official minority language in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

10. Yue Chinese

• Number of native speakers: 85 million

Yue Chinese is sometimes broadly referred to as Cantonese, though experts prefer to use that term for a specific, smaller number of dialects belonging to the Yue language group only. This type of Chinese is spoken in Southern China, and it’s vastly different from Mandarin Chinese.

* Modern Standard Arabic is unique in that it has no native speakers; instead, Arabic-speaking individuals grow up learning regional dialects such as Egyptian, Levantine, or Mesopotamian Arabic as their first language.

Global Influence of These Languages

There is a reason why people are interested in what the most spoken languages in the world are. Many of these languages are so widespread that they’ve had an undeniable influence on the whole world. 

This is especially true of languages such as English and Mandarin Chinese, which have had a huge impact on both culture and the business world.

Why knowing a top language is important today

Thanks to the internet, the world is now more connected than ever. Communicating with people around the globe has never been easier, and knowing one or more of the most spoken languages in the world allows you to join the global market, learn from other cultures, and travel the world with ease.

These days, you can even find distant friends thanks to the internet and practice your language learning skills while growing as a person at the same time.

Why English is the #1 language in the world

English is the number one lingua franca in the world. Thanks to globalization, it’s the main language used in the business world, at airports, and even on social media. These days, it would be nearly impossible to live your life without at least a basic knowledge of English.

Luckily, English isn’t too difficult to learn. With how popular Hollywood movies and American TV shows are, it’s easy to surround yourself with the language. This immersion helps learners pick up vocabulary, pronunciation, and common expressions quickly and naturally.

What’s more, there are many great English learning resources out there. You can download an app, join an online learning group, or watch English cartoons.

Learn the Popular Languages with Promova: Easy & Fun

Promova is an excellent resource for anyone serious about learning a popular language. From bite-sized lessons to personal study plans with daily goals and tracking achievements, the app truly has it all.

Are you interested in perfecting your English language speaking skills? Try our AI role-play speaking practice feature. Or, if you prefer talking to real humans, book a 1-on-1 private class with a certified English tutor.

Try Promova today and improve your communication skills in the world’s most popular languages.

Conclusion

There are countless languages spoken in the world. Some are more popular than others, such as English, Mandarin, and Spanish. Learning one of these languages is a smart move for your future life and career.