List of languages by total number of speakers
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These are lists of languages by the number of first and second language speakers. However, particularly because of large uncertainties in estimating the number of secondary speakers, all such lists should be used with caution. In particular, the lists below should be seen as tentative.
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[edit] Estimations
[edit] English estimations (total number of speakers)
Totaling about 1.5 billion or 1.8 billion speakers.[1][2] English is the primary language of Britain, Canada, the USA, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various Caribbean and Pacific island nations; it is also an official language of Pakistan, India, the Philippines, and many sub-Saharan African countries. It is the most widely spoken language in the world, and the most widely taught foreign language.[3][4]
[edit] George H. J. Weber's estimate
In an article published in December 1997, Weber posted estimates of primary and secondary speakers (this only includes the main land). Adding these, it is possible to obtain estimates for total speakers. However, since only graphs and not numerical figures are listed, readers are referred to his article.[5]
George H. J. Weber's report on the number of native speakers of the top languages.
| 1. Mandarin Chinese (1.1 billion) |
| 2. English (330 million) |
| 3. Spanish (300 million) |
| 4. Hindi/Urdu (250 million) |
| 5. Portuguese (220 million) |
| 6. Arabic (200 million) |
| 7. Bengali (185 million) |
| 8. Russian (160 million) |
| 9. Persian (149 million) |
| 10. Punjabi (130 million) |
| 11. Japanese (125 million) |
| 12. German (90 million) |
| 13. Javanese (80 million) |
| 14. French (75 million) |
George H. J. Weber's report on the number of secondary speakers of the top languages.
| 1. French (190 million) |
| 2. English (150 million) |
| 3. Russian (125 million) |
| 4. Portuguese (28 million) |
| 5. Arabic (21 million) |
| 6. Spanish (20 million) |
| 7. Persian (20 million) |
| 8. Chinese (20 million) |
| 9. German (9 million) |
| 10. Japanese (8 million) |
Total number of native and secondary speakers of top languages.
| 1. Mandarin Chinese (1.12 billion) |
| 2. English (480 million) |
| 3. Spanish (320 million) |
| 4. Russian (285 million) |
| 5. French (270 million) |
| 6. Hindi/Urdu (250 million) |
| 7. Arabic (221 million) |
| 8. Portuguese (188 million) |
| 9. Bengali (185 million) |
| 10. Persian (169 million) |
| 11. Japanese (133 million) |
| 12. Punjabi (130 million) |
| 13. German (100 million) |
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Future of English". The British Council. http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-elt-future.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-24. (page 10)
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20091122050706/http://www.ehistling-pub.meotod.de/01_lec06.php
- ^ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/188048/English-language
- ^ http://www.numberof.net/number-of-english-speaking-people/
- ^ The World's 10 most influential Languages
[edit] Sources
- Most Widely Spoken Languages
- The World’s 10 most influential Languages by George Weber
- (French) Qu'est-ce que la Francophonie?
