Top 20 Native Languages: This article examines the twenty-five most widely spoken indigenous languages globally. In addition, a market overview of the language-learning industry will be provided. You may bypass our comprehensive analysis and proceed directly to the list of the five most widely spoken indigenous languages worldwide.
Market Analysis of Language Learning
As businesses expand globally and globalization continues to advance, the necessity to learn new languages is greater than ever. Global Market Insights has estimated that by 2022, the worldwide market for language acquisition will be worth $52 billion, according to a report published by the company. The market is projected to experience a 20.8% CAGR growth between 2023 and 2032, reaching a total value of $337.2 billion.
COVID-19 had a favorable effect on the language learning industry, in contrast to the majority of markets. The surge in registrations on e-learning platforms can be attributed to the worldwide closure of schools, universities, and colleges. Nearly sixty percent of respondents to a survey conducted by Lingoda, a European language education platform, reported beginning language study during the pandemic. Furthermore, ninety percent of these respondents intended to resume their education following the pandemic.
Top 20 Native Languages: Language Market Segmentation and Developments
The individual learning segment occupies approximately sixty percent of the market for language acquisition and is expected to expand at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. The ability to customize the learning experience and exercise authority over the amount of time and course content incorporated drives the market expansion. In response to this need, language learning platforms are incorporating self-evaluation tools, flexible learning materials, and pre-recorded interactive exercises. Additionally, you may wish to review the 16 Easiest Languages to Learn for Spanish Speakers.
Moreover, in 2022, the European region comprised 30% of the market’s revenue share. The expansion of the language learning market is propelled by several key factors, namely enhanced digital infrastructures, widespread internet access across regions, and the swift integration of 5G services. The GSMA Mobile Economy Europe Report 2023 indicates that Europe has a mobile penetration rate of 85 percent, with more than 158 million 5G connections. Language learning platforms may utilize the digital infrastructure of Europe to augment the learning experience by integrating virtual and augmented reality and delivering high-definition lecture videos. Additionally, the 25 Most Difficult Languages to Learn and the 20 Largest Augmented Reality And VR Companies In The World are both worth exploring.
Prominent Organizations in the Language Learning Industry
Prominent entities in the language learning industry consist of Udemy (NASDAQ: UDMY), Chegg Inc. (NYSE: CHGG), and Babbel GmBH. Following this, we will examine these companies in depth.
Established in 2007, Babbel GmBH was among the pioneering platforms for language instruction worldwide. It manages a platform for online education with millions of active subscribers. Easy-to-learn brief courses in numerous languages are available from Babbel. Furthermore, the utilization of the app-based model, which is compatible with both iOS and Android, enables users to acquire knowledge remotely and without interruption. Babbel announced a collaboration with Forest Stewardship Council GmbH to promote English language acquisition among indigenous and deserving individuals on November 14, 2023. In addition to granting these individuals access to the Babbel application through this partnership, Babbel will also conduct live English language classes. The Babbel representative for this partnership, Cristian Silva, stated:
“At Babbel, we believe that language ought to serve as a conduit to unite individuals across the globe, not as an obstacle.” “Our mission is to facilitate easy, effective, and adaptable language learning so that organizations and businesses can thrive on the global market and communicate more effectively with international partners and clients.”
The Methodology We Employ
We obtained the data for compiling the list of the 25 most widely spoken native languages globally from the 22nd edition of Ethnologue. The database of Ethnologue contains data about over 7,000 distinct languages and the corresponding speaker populations. The 22nd edition of Ethnologue provides detailed information on the total number of native speakers for each language. We used this information to determine the top 25 languages from the database and ranked them in ascending order.
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Top 20 Native Languages: Know The Most Spoken Languages Worldwide
20. Bhojpuri
More than 52 million individuals worldwide utilize the Bhojpuri Language, a native tongue that is given priority. It is an Indo-Aryan language extensively spoken in the Terai region of Nepal and Northern India.
19. Gujarati
Gujarati is ranked twenty-fourth among worldwide spoken native languages. The language in question is classified as an Indo-Aryan language and holds official recognition under the Indian Constitution. More than 57 million individuals across the globe utilize Gujarati as their native tongue.
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18. Iranian Persian
Iranian Persian, which is the primary tongue of more than 57 million individuals worldwide, is the official language of Iran. Dari and Tajik are the two main Iranian Persian dialects; Tajik is Tajikistan’s official language and Dari is Afghanistan’s official language.
17. Italian
The Italian language, which has more than 64 million native speakers worldwide, is positioned 22nd on our list. The majority of Romance-speaking Italians reside in the regions of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Officially, San Marino, Italy, Switzerland, and Vatican City all recognize it.
16. Javanese
More than 68 million indigenous speakers worldwide speak Javanese, which is classified as a Malayo-Polynesian language. The majority of these speakers reside on Java Island. Numerous dialects, including Nagoko and Krama, arise from regional variations of the Javanese language.
15. Urdu
The official language of Pakistan is Urdu, which is also the native tongue of more than seventy million individuals around the globe. It is classified as an Indo-Aryan language and maintains a strong correlation with Hindi.
14. Standard German
More than 75 million people worldwide speak German as their native tongue, making it the official language of Germany and Austria, and ranking it nineteenth on our list. It is classified within the Indo-European language family, which also includes Frisian, English, and Dutch.
13. Egyptian Spoken Arabic
Egyptian English is the official language of the country, and more than 77 million individuals worldwide speak it as their native tongue. Egypt’s status as the most populous nation in the Arab region makes Egyptian-spoken Arabic the most frequently encountered dialect of Arabic.
12. Tamil
Tamil, a member of the Dravidian language family, is the most widely spoken language in India. It is the official state language of Singapore, Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka, and more than 78 million individuals speak it as their native tongue.
11. French
The sixteenth most widely spoken native tongue on our list is French. More than eighty million indigenous speakers worldwide utter it as it is a member of the Romance language family. Numerous nations, including France and Corsica, have designated it as their official tongue.
10. Korean
Korean is ranked among the top 15 most widely spoken native languages on the planet, boasting a speaker count exceeding 81 million. In addition to North and South Korea, it is the official language of China, portions of Japan, and the United States.
9. Telugu
Southeastern India is home to the most extensively spoken member of the Dravidian language family, Telugu. More than 82 million individuals worldwide are native speakers of this language.
8. Marathi
Marathi is spoken by more than 83 million individuals and is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. It is widely spoken throughout India. Marathi is the native tongue of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
7. Wu Chinese
People widely speak Wu, a Chinese dialect, in the provinces of Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang. It has its origins in the Ming dynasty and is the native tongue of over 83 million individuals worldwide.
6. Turkish
The Atlantic language family includes Turkish, which is extensively spoken throughout the Middle East, Cyprus, and Turkey. Turkish has over 84 million speakers, making it the eleventh most widely spoken indigenous language globally.
5. Vietnamese
More than 85 million indigenous speakers worldwide utilize Vietnamese, an official language of Vietnam and a member of the Mon-Khmer language family. Chinese and Thai languages influence Vietnamese, resulting in lexical similarities. Furthermore, numerous Vietnamese dialects are remarkably distinct from one another.
4. Yue Chinese
People speak this variety of Chinese dialect in Guangxi, Macau, Guangdong, and Hong Kong. A multitude of Yue Chinese varieties exist, such as Si-yi, Gao-Yang, and Wu-Hua, among others.
3. Japanese
People consider Japanese an isolated language because it lacks linguistic relationships with any other language across the globe. Primarily spoken as a first language in Japan, it is also present in regions of North and South America. More than 128 million native speakers of Japanese worldwide, which places it as the eighth most-spoken native language on our list.
2. Russian
With more than 146 million native speakers worldwide, Russian ranks seventh on our list of the twenty-five most widely spoken native languages. It is classified within the Slavic language family and serves as the official language of Russia.
1. Bengali
Over 233 million native users speak Bengali, making it the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. People widely speak Bengali in parts of Europe and the United States, as well as India, aside from Bangladesh.