August 5, 2025 | 04:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The language intelligence research institute, Ethnologue, recently released a list of the most spoken languages in the world in 2025. The institute noted that English remains the most spoken language worldwide this year, with a total of 1.5 billion speakers.
Here is the complete list of the top 10 most spoken languages in the world for 2025, as compiled by Ethnologue:
1. English
English is the most spoken language in the world in 2025, with 1.5 billion speakers. As a key part of the Indo-European language family, English originated in the United Kingdom. It is often considered a global language, used as the primary medium of instruction in international education and serving as a common ground for communication across cultures. This widespread reach is a legacy of the British Empire's historical colonial influence.
2. Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is the second most spoken language, with 1.2 billion speakers. Originating in China, it belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and is a part of the broader Macro Chinese languages. Due to China's economic growth, Mandarin is increasingly used in education and business. The high demand for proficient speakers has led many companies to offer competitive salaries for Mandarin translators, even for fresh graduates.
3. Hindi
Ranking third with 609.1 million speakers, Hindi is the official national language of India. It is a member of the Indo-European language family and is written using the Devanagari script. Developing in Delhi and the surrounding regions, Hindi has been enriched by both Sanskrit and Persian. The language is integral to Indian culture, playing a major role in Bollywood films, music, and literature.
4. Spanish
Spanish comes in fourth with 558.5 million speakers. This Indo-European language began in Spain and is now widely spoken across Latin America and in some parts of Asia, such as the Philippines. Spanish is one of the official languages of the United Nations (UN). Its global reach, much like English, is a direct result of its colonial history.
5. Standard Arabic
In fifth place is Standard Arabic, with 334.8 million speakers. It belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family and is a key component of the Macro-Arabic languages. Originating in Saudi Arabia, it is the language of daily communication throughout the Arab world and is also an official language of the UN.
6. French
French ranks sixth with 311.9 million speakers. A member of the Indo-European language family, it originated in France. French maintains a strong global influence and is an official language for several international organizations, including the UN. Its development is supported by institutions like the Institut Français Indonésie, which promotes the study of French worldwide.
7. Bengali
Seventh on the list is Bengali, with 284.3 million speakers. This Indo-European language is the official language of Bangladesh and is also widely used by speakers in parts of India.
8. Portuguese
Portuguese is eighth with 266.6 million speakers. Part of the Indo-European language family, it originated in Portugal. The language is also spoken in several Latin American countries, most notably Brazil, and is the most widely spoken language in Timor-Leste.
9. Russian
In ninth place, Russian has 253.4 million speakers. This official language of the Russian Federation is a member of the Indo-European language family and is also an official language of the UN. It remains widely used in several former Soviet Union countries, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, and parts of Ukraine.
10. Bahasa Indonesia
Rounding out the top ten is the Indonesian language or Bahasa Indonesia, with 252.4 million speakers. As an Austronesian language, it is also spoken in neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste. Some countries, such as Japan and Australia, have recognized its importance by including Indonesian as an optional language in their educational curricula.
Editor’s Choice: 10 Best Languages to Learn in 2025 and Countries to Learn Them
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