The most spoken language in the world by total number of speakers (both native and non-native) is Mandarin Chinese, with over 1.1 billion speakers.

However, if we consider only native speakers, Mandarin still leads with around 918 million native speakers.

If we look at second-language speakers, English is the most widely spoken, with about 1.5 billion total speakers (native + non-native), making it the most global language in terms of reach and influence.

Key Rankings:

1. Mandarin Chinese – ~1.1 billion total speakers
2. English – ~1.5 billion total speakers (most widespread as a second language)
3. Hindi – ~602 million total speakers
4. Spanish – ~548 million total speakers
5. Arabic – ~274 million total speakers

Would you like details on a specific region or aspect of language dominance?

The most spoken language in the world by the number of native speakers is Mandarin Chinese. However, if we consider the total number of speakers, including those who speak it as a second language, English is often considered the most spoken language globally due to its widespread use in international business, science, technology, and popular culture. Here are some approximate figures:

• Mandarin Chinese: Approximately 918 million native speakers.
• English: Approximately 379 million native speakers, but over 1.5 billion total speakers when including second language speakers.

So, depending on whether you're looking at native speakers or total speakers, the answer could be Mandarin Chinese or English.

English is the most spoken language in the world by total number of speakers, but Mandarin Chinese has the most native speakers.

The most spoken language in the world is Mandarin Chinese, with over 1 billion speakers.

As of my last update, the most spoken language in the world by the number of native speakers is Mandarin Chinese. However, when considering the total number of speakers, including those who speak it as a second language, English is the most widely spoken language globally.

Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world by number of native speakers, with over 1.1 billion people speaking it as their first language. If you count both native and non-native speakers, English has the most speakers globally, with an estimated 1.5 billion people using it.

Most Spoken Language in the World

By Total Number of Speakers (Native + Non-Native)

English is the most spoken language in the world when accounting for both native and non-native speakers. As of 2023–2025, English boasts approximately 1.5 billion speakers worldwide, making it the global lingua franca and the dominant language in international business, science, technology, and online media[4][5][6].

By Number of Native Speakers Only

Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world by native speakers alone. With close to 1 billion (estimates range from 900 to 990 million) native speakers, Mandarin surpasses any other language in terms of first-language users, primarily due to China’s large population[1][2][3][7].

Comparative Table

Additional Context

• Spanish and Hindi also have large numbers of speakers; Spanish is notable for a high number of native speakers (around 486 million), while Hindi and its dialects are spoken by hundreds of millions, mainly in India[1][2][3][4].
• The dominance of English is largely due to its widespread adoption as a second language in many countries, whereas Mandarin’s dominance is driven by the population of native speakers in China[3][4][7].

Summary: - The most spoken language in the world by total speakers is English. - The language with the most native speakers is Mandarin Chinese.

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, the most spoken language in the world by the number of native speakers is Mandarin Chinese. However, if you consider total speakers (both native and non-native), English is often cited as the most spoken language globally due to its widespread use as a second language and its status as an international lingua franca.

Here are some key points: - Mandarin Chinese: Has the most native speakers, estimated to be around 918 million. - English: Has a significant number of non-native speakers, making it the most spoken language in terms of total speakers.

Other languages with a large number of speakers include Spanish, Hindi, and Arabic. The exact rankings can vary slightly depending on the source and the criteria used (native vs. total speakers).