How Many People Speak English, And Where Is It Spoken?

English is one of the most widely spoken languages on Earth. Whether it’s someone’s first language or a second language, English is used every day by people around the world to communicate across borders, study, travel and do business. While no single language is spoken everywhere, English has become today’s closest thing to a global lingua franca.

But just how many people speak English? And where do most English speakers live? Here’s a look at the latest global statistics, followed by a regional breakdown of where English is spoken and how the language became so widespread.

How Many English Speakers Are There Worldwide?

Around 1.35 billion people speak English worldwide, making it the most widely spoken language when native and non-native speakers are counted together. Only about 360 million people speak English as their first language, while nearly one billion others use it as a second or foreign language.

That means roughly one in six people around the globe can speak at least some English. The language is also the world’s most commonly studied foreign language, helping millions of learners communicate with people from different countries even when they don’t share the same native language.

Global English Stats: At A Glance

Here’s a quick snapshot of the English language around the world:

Where Is The English Language Spoken?

English is spoken on every inhabited continent. In some countries — including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand — it is the primary language for most of the population. In many others, English serves as an official language alongside one or more local languages.

Countries where English is widely spoken as a native language include:

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Australia

• The Bahamas

• Barbados

• Belize

• Canada

• Dominica

• Grenada

• Guyana

• Ireland

• Jamaica

• New Zealand

• Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Saint Lucia

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Trinidad and Tobago

• United Kingdom

• United States

Many more countries recognize English as an official language even though most residents speak another language at home. India, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya and the Philippines are among the largest examples.

How Many People Speak English In The Americas?

The Americas are home to the world’s largest English-speaking population. Most native English speakers live in North America, but English is also spoken throughout Central America, the Caribbean and parts of South America—either as a first language, an official language or a widely spoken second language.

The vast majority of native English speakers in the Americas live in the United States, where about 297 million people speak English as their first language. Canada adds another 30 million native English speakers, while several Caribbean nations—including Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas—also have English as an official language. In some of these countries, however, English exists alongside local creoles and other languages used in

everyday life.

In Central and South America, English is less commonly spoken as a native language, but millions of people have learned it as a second language. Across Central and South America, an estimated 14 million people speak English, with particularly large English-speaking populations in Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Puerto Rico.

How Many People Speak English In Europe?

Although English originated in Europe, most Europeans who speak English learned it as a second language rather than growing up with it. Today, English serves as a common language between people from different countries, making it one of the continent’s most important tools for international communication.

The United Kingdom is home to around 60 million English speakers, including roughly 50 million in England and Wales. Beyond the U.K., Germany has one of Europe’s largest English-speaking populations (around 46 million), followed by France and Italy. In most of these countries, however, English is learned in school rather than spoken as a native language.

How Many People Speak English In Africa?

Africa has relatively few native English speakers, but it’s home to one of the world’s largest populations of people who speak English as a second language. In many African countries, English serves as an official language and plays an important role in education, government and business.

Only about 6.5 million people across Africa speak English as their first language, but around 237 million speak it overall. Nigeria has by far the continent’s largest English-speaking population, with an estimated 111 million speakers, followed by Uganda, South Africa and Cameroon.

Because so many countries in Africa use English alongside other official or regional languages, proficiency varies widely from one country to the next. Even so, English continues to be an important language for communication across the continent.

How Many People Speak English In Asia?

Asia is home to relatively few native English speakers, but hundreds of millions of people use English as a second or foreign language. As a result, the continent has one of the world’s largest English-speaking populations.

According to Ethnologue, around 460 million people in Asia speak English. India accounts for the largest share, with approximately 265 million English speakers. The Philippines follows with around 50 million, while Bangladesh and Pakistan each have tens of millions of people who speak English as well.

English also plays an important role in countries like Singapore, where it is one of the official languages and is widely used in schools, government and business.

How Many People Speak English In Oceania?

Although Oceania has a much smaller population than other regions, English is the dominant language across much of the continent. Australia is home to about 22 million native English speakers, while New Zealand has roughly 4 million, most of whom speak the local variety known as New Zealand English. Papua New Guinea contributes another 3.2 million English speakers, and Fiji has around 200,000. Across Oceania as a whole, there are more than 30 million English speakers.

A Brief History Of The English Language

How did English become so widely spoken? The answer lies in a combination of migration, conquest and colonial expansion.

English belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family. It developed after Germanic tribes settled in Britain during the fifth century, gradually evolving into what we now call Old English. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the language absorbed thousands of words from French and Latin, giving rise to Middle English before eventually developing into Modern English.

Centuries later, British colonialism spread English around the world. As the British Empire established colonies across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Oceania, English became the language of government, trade and education in many territories. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the global influence of the United States has further reinforced English as the dominant language of international business, science, entertainment and technology.

Why Learn English?

The sheer number of people who speak English makes it a very popular choice around the world. In many countries around the world, English is the most obvious choice for a second language. Of course, there are drawbacks to English’s status as a global lingua franca — including the fact that it gives an advantage to people born in predominantly English-speaking countries — but it’s undeniably a useful tool in business, entertainment, science and countless other fields.

If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you already speak English. But learning another language is one of the best ways to broaden your horizons, connect with new people and experience different cultures. Not sure where to start? Check out our list of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn — or, if you’re looking for a bigger challenge, explore some of the hardest languages to learn instead.