This is a list of languages ordered by the number of native-language speakers .

Since the definition of a single language is to some extent arbitrary, some mutually intelligible idioms with separate national standards or self-identification have been listed separately, depending on conventional use, including Scandinavian, Urdu/Hindi, Dutch and Afrikaans, Indonesian and Malay.

The relevant estimate for the number of native speakers for the purposes of this list is that of SIL Ethnologue. Other estimates may vary, and the numbers should not be taken as more than indicating the rough order of magnitude of a linguistic community.

More than 60 million speakers

Language	Family	Ethnologue (estimate)	Encarta estimate	Other estimates	Estimated ranking
Mandarin Chinese	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	845,000,000	800,000,000	1,052 million including second language speakers (Ethnologue, 1999 )/ 1,151 million (982 native, 179 second language) / It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.	1
Spanish	Indo-European, Italic, Romance	329,000,000	358,000,000	417 million including second-language speakers (Ethnologue 1999)./ 500 million currently/ It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.	2
English	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic, Anglo-Frisian, English	328,000,000	350,000,000	508 million including second speakers (Ethnologue, 1999 )/1,000 million (as a total of first, second and foreing language spoken according to List of countries by English-speaking population)/ It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.	3
Hindi/Urdu	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	182,000,000 Hindi, 60,600,000 Urdu	200,000,000 Hindi , 40,000,000 Urdu	487 million (366 million with all varieties of Hindi and Urdu + 120 million as a second language in 1999)/ 484.5 million (258 mill. properly Hindi, 422 million all varieties of Hindi and 51,5 of Urdu according to Indian Census 2001 + 11 million Urdu speakers in 1993 census of Pakistan )/ 552 million currently. 473.5 million of 1,028 million spoken some variety of Hindi or Urdu according to Indian Census (46%). In Pakistan 7.57% speak Urdu. Currently the population of India is 1,173 million and 168 million is currently the population of Pakistan. (294.4 million speak properly Hindi as a first language): 258 million of 1,028 million spoken Hindi according to the 2001 Indian census (25.08%).	4
Arabic	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic	221,000,000†	150,000,000	246 million including second language speakers (Ethnologue, 1999)It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. †Ethnologue further counts each of sixteen dialects.	5
Bengali	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	181,000,000	170,000,000	211 million including second language speakers (Ethnologue, 1999 ).	6
Portuguese	Indo-European, Italic, Romance	178,000,000	150,000,000	191 million including second language speakers (Ethnologue, 1999 )/ 220 million native, 20 million second language = 240 million total	7
Russian	Indo-European, Slavic, East Slavic	144,000,000	160,000,000	277 million including second language speakers (Ethnologue, 1999)/ It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.	8
Japanese	Japonic, formerly Language isolate	122,000,000	126,000,000	130 million native, 2 million second language = 132 million total	9
German	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic	90,300,000	100,000,000	101 million native (88 million Standard German, 5 million Swiss German, 8 million Austrian German), 60 million second language in EU + 5–20 million worldwide.	10
Javanese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	84,600,000	70,000,550		11
Wu	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	77,200,000	90,000,000		12
Korean	language isolate (status as part of the Altaic family controversial)	75,000,000	60,000,000	42,000,000 in South Korea (1986). Population total all countries 78,000,000 (1999 WA)	13
Punjabi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	78,300,000	70,000,000	Both counts include the two Lahnda dialects of Western Punjabi and Siraiki 61–62 million (2000 WCD) (taken together with Eastern Punjabi (28 million): approx. 90 million total)	14
French	Indo-European, Italic, Romance	67,800,000	70,000,000	128 million “native and real speakers" (includes 64,473,140 French people) and 72 million "bilinguals". More than 200 total both native and second language. Not including partial speakers, and up to 450+ million total with significant knowledge of the language. French is the ninth most spoken language in the world when including second language speakers. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.	15
Telugu	Dravidian, South Central	69,800,000	69,666,000	74,002,856 (2001 census)	16
Vietnamese	Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Vietic	68,600,000	68,000,000	70 million native, perhaps up to 16 million second language, = ~86 million total	17
Marathi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	68,100,000	68,022,000	Indian census:71,936,894 68 million native, 3 million second language = 71 million total	18
Tamil	Dravidian.	65,700,000	66,000,000	Indian census:60,793,814 78 million	19
Italian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance	61,700,000	62,000,000		20

20 to 60 million native speakers

Language	Family	Ethnologue (2005 estimate)	Encarta estimate	Other	Estimated ranking
Persian	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian	72 million	31.3 million	ca. 72 million; sometimes taken to include all of Southwestern Iranian (Luri, Tati, and other); ca. 72 million second language , total ca. 144 million total	21
Turkish	Altaic, Turkic, Oghuz	59 million	61,000,000	Official in Turkey, (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), Cyprus; spoken in Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, France, United Kingdom, Kosovo by Turkish Population	22
Cantonese/Yue	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	55,500,000			23
Tagalog (including Filipino)	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Philippine	48.9 million	17 million (2006)	Official in Philippines (in the form of Filipino). Significant communities in Canada, People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States (Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands). ~49 million native, ~51 million second language = ~100 million total	24
Gujarati	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	46.5 million	46.1 million	--	25
Min	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	46.2 million	--	Southern Min: 49m, Northern Min 10.43m	26
Polish	Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic	40.0 million	44 million	--	27
Ukrainian	Indo-European, Slavic, East Slavic	39.4 million	47 million	--	28
Xiang	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	36.0 million			28
Malayalam	Dravidian, Kerala, Southern - India	35,706,000	35,706,000	Indian census:33,066,392	30
Kannada	Dravidian, Southern	35.4 million	35.4 million	38 million native, 9 million second language, = 47 million total	31
Maithili	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	45 million	24,191,900		32
Bhojpuri	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	38.5 million	26,254,000		33
Burmese	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese	32,300,000	32.3 million	50-56 million total speakers, including 18 to 23 million as second language (Myanmar Language Commission)	33
Oriya	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	31.7 million	32.3 million	Oriya is an official language of India and is spoken by over 35 million people all over the world. Indian Census:33,017,446	34
Malay	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Malayic	39,100,000	23.6 million (2006)	Official in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore. Native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand. Significant communities in Australia, Bahrain. 18 million native, 3 million second language, = 21 million total (not counting Indonesian)	35
Sunda	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	34 million	27 million		36
Hakka	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	30,000,000	--		37
Hausa	Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West Chadic	24,200,000	24.2 million (2006)	Official in Niger, north Nigeria. Significant communities in Chad, Benin, Ghana, Sudan 24 million native, ~15 million second language, = ~39 million total	38
Romanian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance	23,400,000	26,265,555	Official in Moldova, Romania, Serbia (Vojvodina). Significant communities in Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Spain, Ukraine. 26 million native, 4 million second language. The total is about 30 million.	39
Indonesian (also known as Bahasa Indonesia)	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian	23.2 million	17.1 million	national language in Indonesia over 140 million second language speakers per Ethnologue. Almost 100% of the population of Indonesia speaks Bahasa Indonesia, a dialect of Malay.	40
Dutch	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic	21,700,000	20 million (2006)	25 million Official in Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Suriname. Significant communities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Indonesia and South Africa (excluding Afrikaans).	42
Gan	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese	21 million	--	48 million, 29 million in Jiangxi	43
Thai	Kradai, Tai	20.3 million (2000)	46.1 million (2006)	Encarta includes Northern, Northeastern and Southern Thai as well as Central whereas ethnologue Thai is just Central Thai ~31 million native (1983 SIL, 1990 Diller, 2000 WCD) (dated data), = ~60 million first and second language (2001 A. Diller). Includes Southern Thai, Northern Thai/Western Lao, but not Shan, Isan, or Lao.	44
Yoruba	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid	20,000,000	20 million (2006)	Official in Nigeria.	45
Azerbaijani	Altaic, Turkic, Oghuz	19.1 million	31.4 million	25–35 million native, including Qashqai (data for Iran uncertain); 8 million second language (outside Iran)	46
Pashto	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern Iranian	19,000,000	26,811,657	Official in Afghanistan. Native to Pakistan. Significant communities in Iran, United Arab Emirates.	47

10 to 20 million native speakers

Language	Family	Ethnologue (2005 estimate)	Encarta estimate	Other	Ranking by Ethnologue estimate
Sindhi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	19,720,000	19,720,000 (2006)	Official in Pakistan, India. Significant communities in People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong), UK, Philippines Oman. 17 million native, 13 million second language, = 30 million total (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	48
Uzbek	Altaic, Turkic, Eastern Turkic	18,466,000	20.1 million (2006)	Official in Uzbekistan. Native to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan	49
Serbo-Croatian	Indo-European, Slavic, South	Croatian 6,200,00, Bosnian 1,800,000, Serbian 8,600,000	Croatian 6,200,00, Bosnian 1,800,000, Serbian 8,600,000 (1996)	Official in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. Variant language; Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian respectively. Significant communities in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia.	50
Igbo	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid	18 million	18 million	Official in Nigeria unknown number second language.	51
Oromo	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Cushitic	split into different dialects in their consideration	17.2 million (2006)	National language of Ethiopia. Significant communities in Kenya 24 million native (31.6% of Ethiopia [1994 census]), ~2 million second language, = 26 million total (1998 census)	52
Amharic	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South	17,413,000	17.4 million (2006)	Official in Ethiopia. Significant communities in Israel.27 million native (32.7% Ethiopia [1994 census] and 2.7 million emigrants), 10% (7 million) as a second language = 34 million total	53
Nepali	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	16,056,000	16,056,000	Official in Nepal, India (Sikkim). Significant communities in Bhutan.approx. 30 million in Nepal, 16 million as native tongue and 15 million as a second language (2006)	54
Kurdish	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern	16,000,000	Kurdish is absent from Encarta's list of "Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People"	Official in Iraq. Native to Armenia, Iran, Syria, Turkey. Significant communities in Germany, Lebanon.	55
Cebuano	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	15.8 million	15 million (2006)	Native to Philippines 18.5 million native, ~11.5 million second language, = 30 million total (2000 census)	56
Assamese	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	15,334,000	15,374,000	Official in India (Assam). Significant communities in Bhutan and Bangladesh. Assamese is spoken and/or understood by almost everyone in the state of Assam. Assam had a population of 26.7 million in 2003-04. So, Assamese has another 8-10 million second language speakers. Assamese is also understood and spoken widely in Arunachal Pradesh, which has a population of 1.1 million. These are mostly second or third language speakers. Various tribes in Nagaland, with a population of 2 million, use Nagamese, a variant of Assamese, for communication. Thus, a total of approximately, 28-30 million people speak and understand Assamese.	57
Malagasy	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Bornean, Barito	15 million	10.5 million (2006)	Official in Madagascar. Significant communities in Mayotte. 17 million	58
Hungarian	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric	14,500,000	14.5 million (2006)	Official in Hungary, Serbia (Vojvodina), Slovenia, Austria. Significant communities in Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States, Israel 14 million native (1995)	59
Zhuang	Kradai, Tai	14 million	14 million	Official in People's Republic of China (Guangxi) 14 million native (1992), unknown number second language	60
Madurese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	13,694,000	13,694,000	Native to Indonesia (Originally Java, Madura)	61
Sinhalese	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	13,220,000	13.2 million (2006)	Official in Sri Lanka. Significant communities in United Arab Emirates 13 million native, 2 million second language, = 15 million total (1993)	62
Greek	Indo-European, Greek	12 million	12 million	Official in Cyprus, Greece. Significant communities in Albania, Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA. 12 million (2004), up to 10–12 million more second language	63
Czech	Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic	12 million (2006)	12 million (1990 WA).	Official in Czech Republic.	64
Fula/Fulfulde	Niger-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian	~13 million (all varieties)	11,428,700	Official in Niger, Nigeria. National language in Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal. Significant communities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sierra Leone.	65
Shona	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	7,000,000	14 million	National language of Zimbabwe. Significant communities in Botswana, Mozambique. 15 million native, 1.8 million second language, = 16–17 million total, including Ndau, Manyika (2000 A. Chebanne)	66

2 to 10 million native speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	SIL estimate	Number of speakers	Estimated ranking by number of native speakers
Somali	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Cushitic	Official in Somalia. Native to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya. Significant communities in Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen.10-16 million native and at least 500,000 second-language speakers.million (2004 WCD)	9.8 million (2006)		67
Zulu	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho, Swaziland	9.6 million (2006)	9.6 million native, ~16 million second language, = ~25 million total (1996 census)	68
Quechua	Quechuan	Official in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. Significant communities in Argentina	8.3 million (2006)	10.4 million, all varieties	69
Kazakh	Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Southern	Official in Kazakhstan. Significant communities in People's Republic of China (Xinjiang), Russia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan	8.2 million (2006)	12 million	70
Tibetan	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Tibeto-Kanauri	Official in People's Republic of China (Tibet Autonomous Region and part of Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu). Significant communities in India	7.1 million (2006)	7.6 million	71
Tajik	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian	Official in Tajikistan. Significant communities in Uzbekistan	4.4 million.	7.9-17 million native (estimates vary due to lack of official data, moreover these exclude Tajiks of Afghanistan)	72
Chichewa (Nyanja)	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Malawi, Zambia. Significant communities in Mozambique, Zimbabwe.		9.3 million native (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk), 0.4 million second language (1999 WA), = 9.7 million total	73
Haitian Creole	Indo-European, Romance, Creole	Official in Haiti. Significant communities in Bahamas, Canada (Quebec), Cuba, Cayman Islands (UK), Dominican Republic, France (Guadeloupe), United States (Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York).	7.4 million (2006)	12 million (2005)	74
Belarusian	Indo-European, Slavic, East Slavic	Official in Belarus. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Russia	10.2 million (2006)	9.1 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	75
Lombard	Indo-European, Romance	Native to Italy	--	5 million Western Lombard + 3 million Eastern Lombard + others = 9.13 million (Ethnologue 2006)	76
Hebrew	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, North Central	Official in Israel. Significant communities in USA (New York, California) and Canada (Ontario).	9.42 million (2006)	~up to 10.0 million speakers including 2nd language speakers	77
Swedish	Indo-European, Germanic, North	National language of Sweden. National language in Finland.	9 million (2006)	8.8 million (1986), ~9 million (2005)	78
Kongo	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language in Angola, Congo-Brazzaville (Kituba), Congo-Kinshasa.	4.7 million (2006)	8.7 million, all varieties, including Yombe and creolized Kituba (1986–2002) (dated data)	79
Akan	Niger-Congo, Kwa	National language in Ghana	7 million (2006)	8.3 million native, ~1 million second language, = ~10 million total (2004 SIL)	80
Tshiluba	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language of Congo-Kinshasa		7.8 million native, 0.7 million second language, = 8.5 million total (1991 UBS). Includes 1.5 million Kiluba.	81
Ilokano	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines. Significant communities in United States (Hawaii).	8 million (2006)	7.7 million native (2000 census), ~2.3 second language = 10 million total	82
Uyghur	Altaic, Turkic, Southeastern, Eastern	Official in People's Republic of China (Xinjiang). Significant communities in Kazakhstan	7.6 million (2006)	7.6 million	83
Neapolitan	Indo-European, Romance	Native to Italy	--	7.5 million native	84
Bulgarian	Indo-European, Slavic, South	Official in Bulgaria. Significant communities in Moldova, Ukraine, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USA	9 million (2006)	7.7 million in Bulgaria (2005) and ~1 million abroad = 8.5 million native	85
Kinyarwanda	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Rwanda. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda		7.3 million (1998)	86
Khmer	Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Khmer	7,039,200	8 million (2006)	Official in Cambodia. Significant communities in Thailand, United States (California), Vietnam 14 million native, 1 million second language, = 15 million total (2004)	87
Xhosa	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho	6.9 million (2006)	7.2 million (1996 census)	88
Balochi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian	Native to Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. Significant communities in Oman, United Arab Emirates	7 million (2006)	7.0 million (1998)	89
Hiligaynon	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines	7 million (2006)	6.9 million (2000 census), est. 4.1 million second language = ~11 million total	90
Tigrinya	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South	Official in Eritrea, Ethiopia	5.1 million (2006)	4.5 million in Ethiopia (6% of population (1994 census)), ~2.25 million in Eritrea (50% of population (CIA)), = 6.75 million native, 146,934 as second language (1994 census), = 6.9 million total	91
Catalan	Indo-European, Romance	Official and Native to Andorra, Spain (Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon (La Franja)), France (Pyrénées-Orientales), Italy (Alghero).	6.6 million (2006)	6.7 million native, ~5 million second language, = ~12 million total (1996) (includes Valencian)	92
Minangkabau	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Malayic	Indonesia (Sumatra)	6.5 million (2006)	6.5 million (1981 Moussay) (dated data)	93
Turkmen	Altaic, Turkic, Southwestern, Eastern	Official in Turkmenistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Iran.	6.4 million (2006)	6.4 million (1995)	94
Makhuwa	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Major language of Mozambique. Significant communities in Tanzania	2.5 million (2006)	6.4 million, all varieties, including Lomwe	95
Santali	Austro-Asiatic, Munda	Official in India	6.2 million (2006)	6.2 million (1997)	96
Albanian	Indo-European, isolate	Official in Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo . Significant communities in Greece, Italy.	6.0 million	3.6 million (data from Albania)	97
Armenian	Indo-European, isolate	Official in Armenia. Significant communities in Russia, USA, Georgia, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, France.	6 million (2006)	6.7 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, etc.)	98
Afrikaans	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic	Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Namibia,Botswana, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom.	6.0 million (2006)	6.0 million native, 10.3 million second language, = 16 million total (1996 census)	99
Mongolian	Altaic, Mongolian	Official in People's Republic of China (Inner Mongolia), Mongolia	5.7 million (2006)	5.7 million	100
Bhili	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India	1.3 million (2006)	5.6 million, all varieties (1994). Includes 1.6 million Wagdi, etc.	101
Danish	Indo-European, Germanic, North	Official in Denmark, Faroe Islands (Denmark). Significant communities in Germany (Southern Schleswig) and Greenland.	5.3 million (2006)	5.6 million (2006?)	102
Finnish	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finnic	Official in Finland. Significant communities in Sweden and Estonia.	6.1 million (2006)	5.4 million (1993)	103
Tatar	Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Northern	Official in Russia (Tatarstan). Significant communities in Bashkortostan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan	5.7 million (1989 USSR census), at least 5.34 million (2002 census: ethnic Tatars in Russia only)		104
Gikuyu	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Major language of Kenya	5.4 million (2006)	5.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL)	105
Slovak	Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic	Official in Slovakia and Vojvodina district of Serbia.	5.6 million (2006)	5.0 million (1990 WA)	106
More	Niger-Congo, Gur	National language of Burkina Faso	5.1 million (2006)	~5 million (1991)	107
Guarani	Tupi	Official in Paraguay. Significant communities in Argentina.	5.1 million (2006)	4.9 million (1995)	108
Swahili	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Tanzania. Significant communities in Comoros, Mayotte, Oman	5 million (2006)	~5 million native, ~80 million second language	109
Southern Quechua	Quechuan	Official in Peru, Bolivia	~5,000,000		110

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	SIL estimate	Number of speakers	Estimated ranking by number of native speakers
Kirundi	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Burundi.		4.9 million (1986) (dated data)	111
Sesotho (southern)	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Lesotho, South Africa.		4.9 million (1996 census)	112
Central Morocco Tamazight (Berber)	Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern	3,500,000National language in Algeria, Mali and Niger (Tuaregs); unrecognized in Morocco, Libya and Tunisia. Large migrant communities in France, Benelux, Spain and Germany .	32.3 million (2006)	37+ million (1998)	113
Romani	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Significant communities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, and USA	3.1 million (2006)	4.8 million, all varieties, including Domari (data for Vlax 2002–2004; for Domari 2000 WCD).	114
Norwegian	Indo-European, Germanic, North	Official in Norway.	5 million (2006)	4.7 million (2006, Statistics Norway)	115
Pahari-Potwari	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Pakistan: Areas of Pakistani administered Kashmir e.g. Mirpur District, Rawalpindi. Dialects include Pahari (Dhundi-Kairali), Pothwari (Potwari), Chibhali, Pindiwali, Punchhi (Poonchi), and Mirpuri. (Mirpuri can also refer to Mirpur Punjabi, a Lahnda language. Pahari-Potwari is related to Punjabi.		4.7 million, all varieties	116
Tibetan	Sino-Tibetan,Tibeto-Burman, Bodic	Official in People's Republic of China (Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Sichuan, Gansu)	1.3 million (2006)	4.6 million, all varieties	117
Kanuri	Nilo-Saharan, Saharan	Official in Niger, Nigeria. Significant communities in Chad (Kanembu)		4.4 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 4.9 million total (data mostly from 1985) (dated data)	118
Kashmiri	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Official in and native to India.	4.5 million (2006)	4.6 million (1997)	119
Bikol	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines	3.3 million (2006)	4.5 native, all varieties (2000 census), unknown number second language	120
Yi	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Burmic	People's Republic of China	4.2 million (2006)	7.8 million ethnic Yi (2000 census)	121
Georgian	Kartvelian	Official in Georgia. Significant communities in Israel.	4.1 million (2006)	4.2 million (1993 UBS)	122
Qusqu-Qullaw	Quechuan	Official in Peru (Cusco and Puno departments) Also spoken in Bolivia, Argentina	4 million		123
Tswana	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Botswana, South Africa. National language of Namibia	4 million (2006)	4.4 million native, 200,000 second language, = 4.6 million total (1993 Johnstone) (dated data)	124
Umbundu	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language of Angola		~4 million native, unknown number second language (1995 WA)	125
Konkani	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Official in India (Goa).Significant communities in Uttara Kannada,Dakshina Kannada.	6 million (2006)	~4 million (1999 WA)	126
Balinese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Bali-Sasak	Indonesia (Bali, Lombok)	3.8 million (2006)	3.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	127
Northern Sotho (sePedi)	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Botswana		3.7 million (1996 census)	128
Luyia	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Kenya	3.6 million (2006)	3.6 million (1989 census) (dated data)	129
Wolof	Niger-Congo, Atlantic	National language in Mauritania, Senegal. Significant communities in The Gambia.	3.4 million (2006)	3.6 million native (2002), unknown number second language	130
Buginese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, South Sulawesi	Indonesia		3.5 million native, 0.5 million second language, = ~4 million total (1991 SIL)	131
Luo (Dholuo)	Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic	Kenya	3.4 million (2006)	3.5 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data)	132
Maninka	Niger-Congo, Mande	National language of Guinea, Mali. Significant numbers in Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone.	2.5 million (2006)	3.3 million, all varieties	133
Mazanderani	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iranian	Iran	3.3 million (2006)	3.3 million (1993) (dated data) (numbers may be confused with or include Gilaki)	134
Gilaki	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iranian	Iran	3.3 million (2006)	3.3 million (1993) (dated data) (numbers may be confused with or include Mazanderani)	135
Shan	Kradai, Tai	Myanmar	3 million (2006)	3.3 million	136
Tsonga	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Mozambique, Swaziland.	3.2 million (2006)	3.3 million (1989, 1996) (dated data)	137
Galician	Indo-European, Romance.	Official in Galicia, Spain.	3.2 million (2006)	3.2 million (1986) (data dated)	138
Lao	Kradai, Tai	Official in Laos. Native to Thailand.	3.2 million (2006)	~19 million Lao-Phutai dialects (including Isan) (data dated)	139
Sukuma	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania	5 million (2006)	3.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	140
Yiddish	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic	official in Russia (Jewish Autonomous Oblast) Significant communities in Belarus, Israel, Latvia, Ukraine, USA.	3 million (2006)	3.2 million	141
Jamaican Creole	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic, Creole	Jamaica. Significant communities in Panama, Costa Rica	2.8 million (2006)	3.2 million (2001)	142
Piemonteis	Indo-European, Italic, North	Italy (official in the Piedmont region), Argentina	3.1 million (2000)	3.1 million (2000), might not include speakers in Latin America	143
Kyrgyz	Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Southern	Official in Kyrgyzstan. Native to Tajikistan	3.1 million (2006)	3.1 million (1993 UBS) (dated data)	144
Waray-Waray	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines	2.4 million	3.1 native (2000 census), unknown number second language	145
Ewe	Niger-Congo, Kwa	Official in Togo. National language of Ghana.	2.5 million (2006)	3.1 million native, 500,000 second language, = 3.6 million total (2003)	146
South Bolivian Quechua	Quechuan	Official in Bolivia, also spoken in Argentina	3,637,500 (ethnologue)sout		147
Lithuanian	Indo-European, Baltic	Official in Lithuania. Significant communities in Latvia.	4 million (2006)	3.1 million (1998)	148
Luganda	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Major language of Uganda		3.0 million native (1991 census), ~1 million second language (1999 WA), = ~4 million total	149
Lusoga	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Major language of Uganda, official status unclear/pending		+/- 3 million native speakers (2002 census), +/- 100,000 second-language speakers (dated data)	150
Acehnese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Malayic	Indonesia	3 million (2006)	~3 million (1999 WA)	151
Kimbundu	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language of Angola		~3 million (1999 WA)	152
Hindko	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Pakistan	2.5 million (2006)	~3 million (1993) (dated data)	153
Ibibio-Efik	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Cross River	Efik official in Nigeria	1.5 million (2006)	~3 million, including Anaang (1990; 1998 B. Connell) (dated data)	154

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers	Estimated ranking by number of native speakers
Rajbangsi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India	3.0 million (1991 census)	155
Garhwali	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India	2.9 million (2000)	156
Bambara	Niger-Congo, Mande	National language of Mali	2.8 million native, 10 million second language, = 13 million total	157
Hmong	Hmong-Mien	China. Significant communities in France (French Guiana), Laos, United States (Minnesota, Wisconsin), Vietnam	2.8 million (2006) ~4 million (Lemoine, 2005)	158
Ometo	Afro-Asiatic, Omotic	Ethiopia	2.8 million, all varieties, including Welayta (1998 census)	159
Indian Sign Language	Language isolate (Sign language)	Bangladesh, India, Pakistan	2.7 million in India, plus unknown number in Bangladesh, Pakistan (2003). Same language as Pakistani Sign Language	160
Betawi creole	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Creole	Indonesia	2.7 million (1993 Johnstone)	161
Karen	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic	Myanmar, Thailand, India	2.6 million, all varieties (dated data)	162
Gondi	Dravidian	India	2.6 million (1997)	163
Senoufo	Niger-Congo, Gur	National language of Mali. Native to Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire.	2.6 million, all varieties (1991, 1993, 2001)	164
Kalenjin	Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic	Kenya	2.5 million (1989 census)	165
Kumauni	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India	2.4 million in India (1998)	166
Kamba	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Kenya	2.4 million native, 600,000 second language, = 3.0 million total (1989 census)	167
Luri	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iranian	Iran	2.4 million (1999, 2001)	168
K'iche'	Mayan	Guatemala	2.3 million (2000 SIL)	169
Kapampangan	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines	2.3 million (2000 census)	170
Bemba	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language of Zambia	2.2 million (2006) 3.6 million native, unknown number second language (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	171
Central Aymara	Aymaran	Official in Bolivia, Peru. Significant numbers in Argentina.	2.2 million Central Aymara (1987)	172
Tiv	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid	Nigeria	2.2 million native, unknown number second language (1991 UBS)	173
Brahui	Dravidian	Pakistan, Afghanistan	2.2 million	174
Gbaya	Niger-Congo, Ubangian	Central African Republic, Congo-Kinshasa	2.2 million, all varieties, including Ngbaka (2000 WCD)	175
Zarma	Nilo-Saharan, Songhai	Official in Niger	2.2 million (1998)	176
Baoulé	Niger-Congo, Kwa	Côte d'Ivoire	2.1 million (1993 SIL)	177
Dogri	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Official in India (Jammu and Kashmir states)	2.1 million (1997)	178
Lingala	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language of Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Kinshasa.	2.1 million native (2000 WCD), 7 million second language in Congo-Kinshasa (1999 WA), unknown additional second-language speakers in Congo-Brazzaville, = 9+ million total. According to Britannica (2005 Yearbook) more than 36 million people speak Lingala as lingua franca.	179
Sasak	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	Indonesia	2.1 million (1989)	180
Kurux	Dravidian	India, Nepal	2.1 million (1997)	181
Mundari	Austro-Asiatic, Munda	India	2.1 million (1997)	182
Dinka	Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic	Southern Sudan	2+ million	183
Slovene	Indo-European, Slavic, South Slavic	Official in Austria, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia.	2.0 million (1991 census) plus minorities in Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy; several hundred thousand (100 000 - 200 000) in US, Canada and Australia	184
Batak	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Northern Sumatra	Indonesia	2 million (2006) ~6.2 million, all varieties (c. 1991 UBS) (dated data). Includes Toba, Dairi, Simalungun, etc.	185
Macedonian	Indo-European, Slavic, South	Official in Republic of Macedonia , also sizeable communities in Albania, Greece, Germany, Italy and USA	2.0 million (1995) [48711]	186
Buyei	Kradai, Tai	China	~2 million (1990 census)	187
Beti-Pahuin	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Major language of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea. Significant communities in Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe.	~2 million. Includes Fang, Ewondo, etc.	188

1 to 2 million native speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	SIL estimate	Ranking by number of native speakers
Zazaki	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iranian	Turkey	1.5–2.5 million (all dialects) (1998 Paul)	189
Occitan	Indo-European, Romance	France, Italy, Spain, Monaco	1,939,000	190
Tulu	Dravidian	India	1.9 million (1997)	191
Ligurian	Indo-European, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italic	Italy, France, Monaco	1,920,848	192
Sidamo	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Cushitic	Ethiopia	1.9 million native, 100,000 second language, = 2.0 million total (1998 census)	193
Bashkir	Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Northern	Official in Russia (Bashkortostan)	1.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	194
Yao	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique	~1.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	195
Chuvash	Altaic, Turkic	Official in Russia (Chuvashia)	1.8 million native, 200,000 second language, = 2.0 million total (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	196
Ijaw (Izon)	Niger-Congo, Ijoid languages	Indigenous in Nigeria	1.8 million (all varieties) (Izon 1 million)	197
Fon	Niger-Congo, Kwa	National language of Benin Significant communities in Togo	1.7 million native (2000 Hoddenbagh), unknown number second language	198
SiSwati	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa, Swaziland. Significant communities in Lesotho	1.7 million (1996 census, 1993 Johnstone)	199
Irish	Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic	Official in the Republic of Ireland; Northern Ireland, Small communities in USA, Canada and Australia	1,656,790 (2006 Irish Census) [48712]	200
Latvian	Indo-European, Baltic	Official in Latvia. Significant communities in Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil.	1.6 million	201
Nyankore	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Uganda	1.6 million (1991 census)	202
Makasar	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	Indonesia	1.6 million native, 400,000 second language, = 2 million total (1989)	203
Gusii	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Kenya	1.6 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL)	204
Khandeshi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India	1.6 million (1997)	205
Ndebele	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa. National language of Zimbabwe.	1.6 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	206
Chin	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman	Myanmar, India	1.6 million (1990 BAP, 1996 UBS). All varieties, but not including Mizo etc.	207
Limburgish	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic, Meuse-Rhenish	Official in Netherlands (as a regional language). Belgium and Germany (no official status)	1.6 million	208
Vlax Romani	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Albania, Colombia, Hungary	1.5 million	209
Sara	Nilo-Saharan, Central Sudanic, Bongo-Bagirmi	National language of Chad. Significant communities in Central African Republic.	1.5 million native, all varieties, large number second-language speakers (dated data)	210
Pangasinan	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines	1.5 million (2000 census)	211
Tonga	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Zambia, Zimbabwe	1.5 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	212
Lampung	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	Indonesia	~1.5 million (1981 Wurm and Hattori)	213
Sardinian	Indo-European, Romance	Official in Italy (Sardinia)	~1.5 million (1977 M. Ibba, Rutgers University)	214
Scots	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic	Scotland, Significant communities in Northern Ireland	~1.5 million native (General Register Office for Scotland, 1996)	215
Dong	Kradai, Kam-Sui	China	1.5 million	216
Mende	Niger-Congo, Mande	National language of Sierra Leone	1.5 million native, unknown number second language (1987 UBS)	217
Tày	Kradai, Kam-Tai, Tai	Vietnam	1.5 million in Viet Nam (1999 census)	218
Nahuatl	Uto-Aztecan, isolate	Mexico	1.4 million (all varieties) (dated data)	219
Afar	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Cushitic	Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti	1.4 million (1998 census)	220
Dagbani	Niger-Congo, Gur	National language of Ghana	1.4 million, including Kusaal, Mampruli (2004 SIL)	221
Koli	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India, Pakistan	1.4 million, all varieties (some data dated)	222
Chiga	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Uganda	1.4 million (1991 census)	223
Chechen	Caucasic, Nakh	Official in Russia (Chechnya).	1.33 million (2002 census)	224
Tumbuka	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in Malawi. Significant communities in Zambia	1.3 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	225
Iu Mien	Hmong-Mien, Yao	China	1.3 million, all varieties (1995 Wang and Mao)	226
Meru	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Kenya	1.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data)	227
Gogo	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania	~1.3 million (1992 UBS) (dated data)	228
Teso	Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic	Uganda. Significant communities in Kenya	1.3 million (1991 census)	229
Meithei	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman	Official in India (Manipur)	1.3 million (1997)	230
Tamang	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman	Nepal	1.3 million	231
Makonde	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania, Mozambique	1.3 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	232
Bai	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, unclassified	China	1.2 million (2003)	233
Tuareg	Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Southern	Official in Niger. National language of Mali.	1.2 million (1991–1998)	234
Mandinka	Niger-Congo, Mande	National language of Senegal. Significant communities in Gambia, Guinea-Bissau.	1.2 million (2002)	235
Jula	Niger-Congo, Mande	Native to Burkina Faso, Significant communities in Côte d'Ivoire	~1.2 million native, 3–4 million second language	236
Temne	Niger-Congo, Atlantic	National language of Sierra Leone	~1.2 million native, 200,000 second language, = ~1.4 million total (1989 J. Kaiser)	237
Haya	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania	~1.2 million (1991 UBS)	238
Serer	Niger-Congo, Atlantic	National language of Senegal. Significant communities in Gambia.	1.2 million (2002)	239
Beja	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic or isolate	Sudan, Eritrea	1.2 million (1982 SIL)	240
Nyamwezi	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania	1.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	241
Abron	Niger-Congo, Kwa	Ghana	1.2 million (2003)	242
Alur	Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic	Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda	1.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	243
Sena	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Mozambique, Malawi	1.2 million, all varieties	244
Azande	Niger-Congo, Ubangian	Congo-Kinshasa, Southern Sudan, Central African Republic	1.1 million (dated data)	245
Walloon	Indo-European, Romance	Belgium	1.1 million (1998)	246
Anyi	Niger-Congo, Kwa	Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana	1.2 million (1993 SIL)	247
Malvi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India	1.1 million (1997)	248
Kinaray-a	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines	Philippines	1.1 million native (2000 census)	249
Soninke	Niger-Congo, Mande	National language in Mali, Mauritania, Senegal. Significant communities in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia.	1.10 million (1991)	250
Ho	Austro-Asiatic, Munda	India	1.08 million (1997)	251
Estonian	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finnic	Official in Estonia	1.08 million (1989 census)	252
Nyakyusa	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania, Malawi	1.05 million (1992 UBS)	253
Gwari	Niger-Congo, Nupe	Nigeria	1.05 million (1991 SIL, 2002 SIL)	254
Lugbara	Nilo-Saharan, Central Sudanic, Moru-Madi	Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda	1.04 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, 1983 SIL)	255
Basque	Language isolate, Euskadi and Navarre (Spain) and Iparralde (France)	Basque Country	1.03 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, 1983 SIL)	256
Naga	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman	India	1.03 million, all varieties (1997)	257
Susu	Niger-Congo, Mande	National language of Guinea. Significant communities in Sierra Leone.	1.03 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	258
Tausug	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippine	Philippines Significant communities in Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia (Sabah)	1.02 million native (2000 census)	259
Chokwe	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	National language of Angola. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa	1.01 million (1990 UBS)	260
Kabardian	Caucasic, Circassian	Official in Russia (Kabardino-Balkaria). Significant communities in Karachay-Cherkessia, Turkey	1.01 million (1993 UBS, 2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	261
Ryūkyū	Japonic, Ryūkyūan	Japan	1.01 million, all varieties (2000 WCD)	262
Magindanaw	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippine	Philippines	1.0 million native (2000 census), unknown number second language	263
Maranao	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippine	Philippines	1.0 million native (2000 census)	264
Ancash Quechua	Waywash	Official in Peru	1.0 million speakers	265
Welsh	Indo-European, Celtic, Brythonic	Official in Wales Also spoken by isolated populations in Argentina and England and United States.	1.0 million speakers	266
Songe	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Congo-Kinshasa	~1 million (1991 WA)	267
Rejang	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi	Indonesia	~1 million (1981 Wurm and Hattori)	268
Bini	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Edoid	Official in Nigeria	~1 million (1999 WA)	269
Ebira	Niger-Congo, Nupe	Nigeria	~1 million (1989 J. Adive)	270
Dagaare	Niger-Congo, Gur	National language of Ghana. Significant communities in Burkina Faso.	~1 million (2003)	271
Gujari	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Afghanistan, India, Pakistan	0.99 million (2000 WCD)	272
Tharu	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Nepal	0.99 million, all varieties	273
Venda	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Official in South Africa	0.96 million (1996 census)	274
Arakanese	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman	Myanmar, Bangladesh	0.95 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)	275

100,000 to 1 million speakers

Mingrelian languageKartvelian, Spoken in Georgia Georgia, 500000

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Mauritian Creole	French-based creoles	spoken in Mauritius; no official status	806,000
Yucatán Maya	Mayan, Yucatecan, Yucatec-Laca	Mexico, Belize	705,000
Ossetic	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern Iranian, Northeastern	Spoken in Russia Official in North Ossetia, South Ossetia), Georgia, Turkey	~700,000
Ndonga	Bantu	Spoken in Namibia, Angola	690,000
Kwanyama	Niger-Congo	Angola, Namibia	671,000
Mari	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Volgaic	Russia (Official in Mari El)	600,569
Réunion Creole	French-based creoles	spoken in Réunion; no official status	600,500
West Frisian	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic, Anglo-Frisian, Frisian	Official in Netherlands (Friesland).	600,000 fluent speakers in 2004 700,000 (Ethnologue 1976)
Avar	North Caucasian (disputed), Northeast Caucasian, Avar-Andic	Official in Russia's Republic of Dagestan Also spoken in the rest of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey	~600,000
Friulian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian	Italy	~600,000
Lozi	Niger-Congo	Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe	550,000
Udmurt	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Permic	Russia (Official in Udmurtia), Kazakhstan	550,000
Kalmyk	Altaic (controversial), Mongolic, Kalmyk-Oirat	Spoken in Russia (Kalmykia), China, Mongolia	518,500
American Sign Language	Sign language	No official status, used in USA, Canada and Guatemala. Also used in varying degrees in Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Mauritania, Kenya, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.	100,000 to 500,000 in the USA [48713]
Breton	Indo-European, Celtic, Brythonic	Native in Brittany, no official status	≤ 500,000
Erzya	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Volgaic, Mordvinic	Spoken in Russia	~500,000
Maltese	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South Central	Official in Malta, European Union. Significant communities in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and Gibraltar	~500,000
Moksha	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Volgaic, Mordvinic	Russia (Mordovia)	~500,000
Zapotec	Oto-Manguean, Zapotecan	Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla Guerrero) Also spoken in USA	~500,000
Fiji Hindi	Indo-European	Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada	460,000
Fijian	Malayo-Polynesian	Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Other Pacific Islands	455,000
Lezgian	Northeast Caucasian, Lezgic	Spoken in Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan	450,000
Hakha-Chin	Sino-Tibetan	Burma, India, Bangladesh	446-264
Limbu	Sino-Tibetan	official in Nepal, India , significant communities in Bhutan, Assam	441,633
Mapudungun	language isolate	Significant communities in Chile, Argentina	440,000 (ethnologue)
Dargin	Caucasian (geographical convention), North (disputed), Northeast	Spoken in Dagestan, Russia	439,000
Ingush	Caucasian (disputed), North (disputed), Northeast, Nakh, Veinakh	Spoken in Russia (Ingushetia, Chechnya)	415,000
Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl	Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Huasteca	Mexico	410,000
Karachay-Balkar	Altaic, Turkic, Kypchak, Kypchak-Cuman	Official languages of Russian areas of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia	400,000
Buryat	Altaic, Mongolic, Northern	Mongolia, China, Russia	400,000
Western Huasteca Nahuatl	Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Huasteca	Mexico	400,000
Corsican	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian	Native in Corsica.	100,000-402,000
Aklanon	Austronesian, Borneo-Philippines, Central Philippine, Visayan, Western Visayan, Aklan,	Native in the Philippines.	394,545
Dhivehi / Mahl	Indo-Aryan	Official inThe Maldives, Minicoy Island(India).	379,200
Samoan	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Nuclear MP	Official in Samoa and American Samoa (United States)	370,337
Sakha	Altaic, Turkic, Northern Turkic	Russia	363,000
Awngi	Afro Asiatic, Cushitic, Central	Ethiopica (Agew Awi Zone, Amhara Region)	356,980
Irish	Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic	Official in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, spoken by communities in the United States, Canada and Australia.	350,000
Komi	Uralic, Permic	Spoken in Russia (Komi Republic, Perm Krai	350,000
Mazahua	Oto-Manguean, Oto-Pamean, Otomian	Mexico	350,000
Papiamento	Portuguese Creole	Official in Netherlands Antilles and Aruba	329,000
Pontic Greek	Indo-European, Greek	Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey	324,535
Japanese Sign Language	Sign language	no official status	320,000 signers
Icelandic	Indo-European, Germanic, North	Official in Iceland. Small community in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada.	310,000
Wayuu	Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean	Significant communities in Colombia, Venezuela	305,000 (ethnologue)
Aromanian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern Romance	Greece, Albania, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia	300,000-700,000
Adyghe	Caucasian (disputed), North Caucasian (disputed), Northwest Caucasian, Circassian	Official in Russia's Republic of Adygea, Significant communities in the rest of Russia, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Macedonia, Iraq	300,000
Laz	South Caucasian	Turkey, Georgia, Germany, Adjaria, Greece	300,000-500,000
Wanka Quechua	Quechuan	Official in Peru	300,000
Luxembourgish	West Central German group of High German languages	Official in Luxembourg	300,000
Garifuna	Arawakan, Carib	Honduras, Belize, Guatemala	300,000
French Sign Language	Sign language	used in France, no official status. French Sign Language is related to Dutch Sign Language (NGT), German Sign Language (DGS), Flemish Sign Language (VGT), Belgian-French Sign Language (LSFB) Irish Sign Language (ISL), American Sign Language (ASL), and Quebec Sign Language (LSQ).	80,000 - 300,000 signers
Kumyk	Altaic, Turkic, Kypchak, Kypchak-Cuman	Russia Dagestan	282,000
Nàmá	Khoisan, Khoe, Khoekhoe, North Khoekhoe	Official in Namibia.	250,000
Central Huasteca Nahuatl	Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec	Mexico	200,000
Kenyan Sign Language	Sign language	Kenya	~200,000
Tuvan	Altaic, Turkic, Northeastern	Mongolia, Russia, China	200,000
Miskito	Misumalpan	Nicaragua, Honduras	183,400
Navajo	Na-Dené, Athabaskan, Southern Athabaskan	Spoken in the USA (Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico)	178,000
Maori	Austronesian, Oceanic, Tahitic languages	Official language of New Zealand/Aotearoa	165,000 fluent speakers (New Zealand Census, 2006. Statistics New Zealand).
Amis	Austronesian	Taiwan	137,651
Ngäbere	Chibchan, Guaymi	Spoken in Panamá	133,092 (1990 Panama Census)
Hererro	Niger-Congo	Namibia, Botswana	130,000
Chamula Tzotzil	Mayan, Cholan-Tzeltalan, Tzeltalan	Mexico	130,000
Abkhaz	Northwest Caucasian, Abkhaz-Abaza	Georgia, Abkhazia, diasporal communities elsewhere	about 125000
Highland Puebla Nahuatl	Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec	Mexico	125,000
Highland Totonac	Totonacan, Totonac	Mexico	120,000
Lak	North Caucasian, Northeast Caucasian	Russia (Southern Dagestan)	120,000
Orizaba Nahuatl	Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec	Mexico	120,000
P'urhépecha	Language isolate	Mexico Michoacán	~120,000
Tahitian	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Central-Eastern MP, Eastern MP, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Eastern Polynesian, Central E. Polynesian, Tahitic	France (French Polynesia)	120,000
Karelian	Uralic	Russia	118,000
Komi-Permyak	Uralic	Russia	116,000
Pardhan	Gondi	No official status, spoken in India	116,919
Franco-Provençal	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian (SIL), Oïl (SIL), Southeastern (SIL)	Italy, Switzerland, France	~113,000
Tongan	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern Malayo-Polynesian...	Official in Tonga	105,319
Bachajón Tzeltal	Mayan, Cholan-Tzeltalan, Tzeltalan	Mexico	100,000
Ladino	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Spanish	Israel, Turkey	109,000
Gilbertese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern...	Official in Kiribati	102,000
Spanish Sign Language	Sign language	Spain	more than 100,000 signers
Mezquital Otomi	Oto-Manguean, Otopamean, Otomian	Mexico, USA	100,000
Tabasaran	Northeast Caucasian, Lezgian	Russia (Southern Dagestan)	95,905
Kodava Takk	Dravidian	Kodagu, Karnataka, India	93,000
Mexican Sign Language	Sign language	no official status	87,000-100,000 signers

10,000 to 100,000 speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Mara	Sino-Tibetan, Kuki-Chin(Central)	India- Official in Mara Autonomous District Council and Chin state, Myanmar	94,000
Atayal	Austronesian	Taiwan	84,330
South Estonian	Uralic	Estonia	80,000
Altay	Altaic, Turkic	Russia, Mongolia, China	71,600
Võro	Uralic, Baltic-Finnic South Estonian	Estonia	70 000
Nogai	Altaic, Turkic	Russia	67,800
Faroese	Indo-European, Germanic, North	Official in Faroe Islands.	60,000 - 80,000
Santiago del Estero Quichua	Quechuan	Spoken in Argentina	66,000 (ethnologue)
Paiwan	Austronesian	Taiwan	61,000
Chamorro	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Nuclear MP, Sunda-Sulawesi	USA (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands)	60,000+
Khakas	Altaic	Russia	~60,000
Scottish Gaelic	Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic	Official in Scotland.	58,652 speakers. Although 92,400 people aged three and over in Scotland had some Gaelic language ability in 2001
Thai Sign Language	Sign Language	Thailand	56,000
Ojibwe	Algonquian	Canada and northern United States	55,000
Leonese	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Iberian, Leonese,	Spain and Portugal	55,000
Kalaallisut	Eskimo-Aleut, Inuit	Official in Denmark (Greenland)	54,000
Kashubian	Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic, Pomeranian	Poland	53,000
Quebec Sign Language	Sign Language	Canada (Quebec)	50,000-60,000
Cree	Algonquin	Canada, United States	50,000

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Sanskrit	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	chiefly India, but also Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal; Used in religious practices in Hinduism.	49,736 fluent speakers (1991 Indian census)
Western Argentine Guaraní	Guaranean	Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay	48,974 (ethnologue)
Eastern Bolivian Guaraní	Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I	Official in Bolivia, Also spoken in Argentina	48,974 (ethnologue)
Cook Islands Maori	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Central-Eastern MP, Eastern MP, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Eastern Polynesian, Central E. Polynesian, Tahitic	New Zealand (Cook Islands)	42,669
Ticuna	Language isolate	Peru, Brazil, Colombia	40,000
Meänkieli	Dialect of Finnish, Baltic-Finnic, Uralic	Sweden	40,000—70,000
Aguaruna	Jivaroan	Official in Peru	38,290 (2000 WCD)
Bunun	Austronesian	Taiwan	38,000
Romansh	Indo-European, Romance	Official in Switzerland.	35,000 native
Rutul	Northeast Caucasian	Russia, Azerbaijan	+30,000
Ladin	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian	Italy	30,000
Inuktitut	Eskimo-Aleut, Inuit	Official in Canada	~30,000
Llanito	Indo-European, Romance, Germanic, West Germanic	Vernacular of Gibraltar. Although widely understood in the surrounding Campo de Gibraltar area, in Spain.	30,000 (Ethnologue 2006)
Evenki	Altaic, Tungusic	Russia, China, Mongolia	29,000
Nenets	Uralic	Russia	27,273
Mbyá Guaraní	Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní	Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay	27,000
Sioux	Siouan-Catawban, Siouan, Mississippi Valley, Dakotan	USA, Canada	26,300
Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz	Mataco-Guaicuru	Argentina	25,000 (ethnologue)
Asháninka	Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine	Official language of Peru	23,750 - 28,500 (2000 SIL)
Huichol	Uto-Aztecan	Mexico (Nayarit, Zacatecas, Jalisco)	20,000
Taba	Austronesian	Indonesia	20,000
Warao	Warao	Venezuela, Guyana	18,000 (ethnologue)
Nivaclé	Mataco-Guaicuru	Paraguay	18,200 (ethnologue)
Agul	Northeast Caucasian, Lezgian	Russia, Azerbaijan	17,373 (1989 Census)
Kaiwá		Brazil	15,512 (Ethnologue)
Cherokee	Iroquoian, Southern Iroquoian	USA (Oklahoma)	15,000-22,000
Northern Sami	Uralic	Norway, Finland, Sweden	15,000—20,000
Mahl	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Insular Indo-Aryan	India	15,000-20,000
Mirandese	Indo-European,Italic,Romance,Italo-Western,Gallo-Iberian,Ibero-Romance,West Iberian, Astur-Leonese	Portugal	15,000
Tsez	North Caucasian	Russia	15,000
Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay	Mataco-Guaicuru	Argentina	15,000 (ethnologue)
!Kung	Khoisian	Namibia, Angola	15,000
Norwegian Sign Language	Sign Language	Norway	4,000-15,000
Tuamotuan	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian...	France (French Polynesia)	14,400
Auslan	BANZSL, Sign Language	Australia	14,000
South Ucayali Ashéninka	Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine	Official in Peru	13,000
Yaghnobi	Eastern Iranian	Tajikistan	12,500
South African Sign Language	Sign Language	South Africa	12,200
Pajonal Ashéninka	Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine	Official in Peru	12,000
Pichis Ashéninka	Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine	Official in Peru	12,000
Khanty	Uralic	Russia	12,000
Chiripá	Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I	Brazil, Paraguay	11,500 (ethnologue)
Chayahuita	Cahuapanan	Official in Peru	11,384 (2000, WCD)
Tuvaluan	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Samoic, Ellicean	Tuvalu, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand	10,670
Aragonese	Indo-European, Romance	Huesca province (Spain). No official status.	10,000 native, 30,000-50,000 with some knowledge (Dated data)
Central Alaskan Yup'ik	Eskimo-Aleut	United States (Alaska)	~10,000
North Frisian	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic, Anglo-Frisian, Frisian	Germany (recognized minority language in Nordfriesland)	10,000 (Ethnologue)
Míkmawísimk	Eastern Algonquian	Canada and United States	About 10,000

Below 10,000

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Israeli Sign Language	Sign Language	Israel	~10,000
Shor	Altaic	Russia	9,800
Zuñi	Isolate	United States (New Mexico and Arizona) Zuñi pueblo	9,651
Huambisa	Jivaroan	Spoken in Peru	9,333 (2000 WCD)
Lakota	Siouan-Catawban, Siouan, Mississippi Valley, Dakotan, Sioux	USA	8,000-9,000
Chukchi	Chukotko-Kamchatkan	Russia	7,742
Huitotot	Bora-Huitoto, Huitoto-Ocaina	Official in Peru Also spoken in Colombia	7,378-8,162 (Adelaar, 2004)
Southern Aymara	Aymaran	Official in Peru Also spoken in Brazil	7,212 (2001 SIL)
Ucayali-Yurúa Ashéninka	Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine	Official in Peru Also spoken in Brazil	7,212
Megleno-Romanian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern Romance	Greece, Romania, Macedonia	5,000-12,000
Veps	Uralic	Russia	6,355
Western Desert Language	Pama-Nyungan	Australia	6,103 (Ethnologue)
Flemish Sign Language	Sign Language	Belgium (Flanders and Brussels-Capital Region)	6,000
Perené Ashéninka	Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine	Official in Peru	5,500
Achuar-Shiwiar	Jivaroan	Official in Peru, Also spoken in Ecuador	5,000
Cashibo-Cacataibo	Panoan	Peru	5,000 (Ethnologue, 1999)
Finnish Sign Language	Sign Language	Finland	5,000 (estimate)
Dolgan	Altaic	Russia	~5,000
Saisiyat	Austronesian	Taiwan	4,750
Rapa Nui	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern, Oceanic, Central-Eastern, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Eastern Polynesian	Chile (Rapa Nui )	4,650
!Xóõ	Khoisian	Namibia, Botswana	4,200
Ajyíninka Apurucayali	Arawakan, Maipuran	Official in Peru	4,000
British Sign Language	BANZSL, Sign Language	United Kingdom	4,000
Akhvakh	Northeast Caucasian	Russia (Dagestan)	3,500
Koryak	Chukotko-Kamchatkan	Russia	3,019
Jaqaru	Aymaran	Official in Peru	3,009
Candoshi-Shapra	Language Isolate	Official in Peru	3,000 (1991, SIL)
Yague	Peba-Yaguan	Official in Peru	3,000-4,000 (dated)
Kala Lagaw Ya	Pama-Nyungan	Australia	3,000-4,000
Khinalug	Northeast Caucasian languages	Azerbaijan	1,500 ~ 4,000
Ludic	Uralic	Russia (Karelia)	3,000
Inupiaq	Aleut	Canada	3,500
Mansi	Uralic	Russia Khantia-Mansia	3,184
Carolinian	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern, Oceanic, Central-Eastern, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ponapeic-Trukic	United States Official in Northern Mariana Islands	3,000
Warlpiri	Pama-Nyungan	Australia	3,000
Godoberi	Northeast Caucasian	Russia (Dagestan)	3,000
Murui Huitoto	Witotoan, Witoto, Witoto Proper, Minica-Murui	Official in Peru, also spoken in Colombia	2,900 (SIL, 1995)
Bora	Witotan	Official in Peru Also spoken in Colombia	2,828
Saterland Frisian (East Frisian)	Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic, Anglo-Frisian, Frisian	Germany (recognized minority language in Saterland, East Frisia)	2,250 11,000 (Ethnologue)
Kven	Uralic	Norway	2,000-8,000
Cashinahua	Panoan	Official in Peru Also spoken in Brazil	2,000
Inuinnaqtun	Aleut	Canada	2,000
Lule Sami	Uralic	Norway, Sweden	2,000
Esperanto	Vocabulary from Romance and Germanic languages; phonology from Slavic languages	International auxiliary language	200 to 2000
Arrernte	Pama-Nyungan	Australia	1,500
Manx Gaelic	Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic	Isle of Man	1,750
Minica Huitoto	Witotoan	Official in Peru, Also spoken in Colombia	1,705 (2000 WCD)
Selkup	Uralic	Russia (Yamalia)	1,570
Culina	Arauan	Official in Peru Also spoken in Brazil	1,303
Chipaya	Uru-Chipaya	Official in Peru	1,200
She	Hmong-Mien	China	1,200
Chickasaw	Muskogean	United States	1,000
Walmajarri	Pama-Nyungan	Australia	1,000

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Ottoman	Altaic-Turkic	Turkey	900
Norfuk	Caribbean Creole	Norfolk island, Pitcairn islands	616
Kildin Sami	Uralic	Russia (Murmansk Oblast, Karelia)	500
Nganasan	Uralic	Russia (Taymyria)	500
Southern Sami	Uralic	Sweden, Norway	500
Inari Sami	Uralic	Finland	400
Skolt Sami	Uralic	Finland, Russia (Karelia)	400
Mlabri	Austroasiatic	Thailand, Laos (Karelia)	<400></400>
Ingrian	Uralic	Russia (Ingria)	300
Pirahã	Muran	Amazon River, Brazil. No official status	300
Washo	Hokan	United States (Washoe County, Nevada)	252
Comanche	Uto-Aztecan	United States (Oklahoma)	200
Hinukh	Northeast Caucasian	Russia (Dagestan)	200
Livonian	Uralic	Latvia (Livonia)	150
Tobian	Trukic	Palau (In the states of Hatohobei and Sonsorol and in the southern areas of Palau)	≥100
Enets	Uralic	Russia (Krasnoyarsk Krai)	70
Pitkern (Or Pitcairnese)	Caribbean Creole	Pitcairn Island (and New Zealand)	≥70
Manchu	Altaic	Northern China (Heilongjian province), Southern Russia	≥60
Pite Sami	Uralic	Sweden, Norway	20
Ume Sami	Uralic	Sweden, Norway	20
Votic	Uralic	Russia	≥20
Kayardild	Pama-Nyungan	Australia	<10></10>
Ter Sami	Uralic	Russia (Murmansk Oblast)	2

Macrolanguages

The following are the largest ISO 639 macrolanguages, which in different sources may be counted as either one or several languages.

• Chinese language (ca. 1,300 million)
• Hindustani language (ca. 900 million)
• Arabic language (ca. 227 million)
• Serbo-Croatian language (ca. 47 million)
• Pashto language (ca. 40 million)
• Persian language (ca. 30 million, second language up to 100 million)
• Azerbaijani language (ca. 25 million)
• Oromo language (ca. 25 million)
• Uzbek language (ca. 23 million)
• Malay language (ca. 23 million)
• Malagasy language (ca. 17 million)
• Kurdish language (ca. 16 million)
• Fula language (ca. 15 million)
• Zhuang language (ca. 14 million)
• Swahili language (5-10 million, second language up to 80 million)

See also

• Linguistic demography
• List of languages by total number of speakers
• List of ISO 639-3 codes

References

1. Ranking by Mean Average of the two estimates (Encarta and Ethnologue)
2. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1481582983/Modern_Standard_Chinese.html
3. http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=CHN
4. http://www.krysstal.com/spoken.html The 30 Most Spoken Languages of the World
5. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861781790/Spanish.html
6. Ethnologue - 1999 WA--source for the second figure)
7. UNAM and Instituto Cervantes ( "El Mundo" news)
8. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861789540/English.html
9. http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=ENG
10. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861721270/Hindi.html
11. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861767768/Urdu.html
12. ^ Ethnologue, 1999
13. http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement1.htm
14. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=urd
15. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement1.htm
16. http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_mother_tongue.pdf
17. [1]
18. [2]
19. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861689162/Arabic.html
20. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=arb
21. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861812718/Bangla.html
22. http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=BNG
23. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861758655/Portuguese.html
24. http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=POR
25. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861770985/Russian.html
26. http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=RUS
27. http://listverse.com/miscellaneous/top-10-most-spoken-languages-in-the-world/
28. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861766410/Japanese.html
29. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861706344/German.html
30. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861711446/Javanese.html
31. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861758362/Wu.html
32. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861720823/Korean.html
33. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861779420/Punjabi.html
34. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861790461/French.html
35. http://www.pagef30.com/2008/10/french-in-9th-place-with-200-million.html
36. http://www.ambafrance-au.org/france_australie/spip.php?article2223
37. U.S. Census Bureau
38. http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/francophonie/francophonie.htm
39. http://www.france24.com/en/20081018-cheer-french-speakers-francophone-francophonie-nadeau
40. http://listverse.com/miscellaneous/top-10-most-spoken-languages-in-the-world/
41. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement4.htm
42. Top 30 Language Spoken in the World by Number of Speakers
43. Ethnologue, Languages of the World
44. sum of 10 dialects; 43 million if all of Southwestern Iranian is included.[3]
45. 2006 CIA Factbook: Iran 39 M (58%), Afghanistan 15 M (50%), Tajikistan 5.8 M (80%), Uzbekistan 1.2 M (4.4%)
46. The Latin Union reports 28 million speakers for Romanian, out of whom 24 million are native speakers of the language: Latin Union - The odyssey of languages: ro, es, fr, it, pt; see also Ethnologue report for Romanian
47. http://ling.cass.cn/fangyan/dituji/LANGUAGE%20ATLAS%20OF%20CHINA.html The population of Gan speakers is 48 million
48. Microsoft Encarta 2006, Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People. Archived 2009-10-31.
49. Народы и языки Российской Федерации. статистика
50. Ethnologue 14 on Tatar (version 15 gives data obviously invompatible with this and the next shown source)
51. Народы и языки Российской Федерации. Статистика
52. Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. "Ethnologue Report for Pahari-Potwari." Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
53. Ethnologue: Latvian
54. "News Release - Scotland's Census 2001 - Gaelic Report" from General Registrar for Scotland website, 10 October 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2007
55. Language Map Data Center

External links

• Languages of the world Free Dictionary Translation
• [48714] Ethnologue 2009 List of languages arranged by number of speakers
• List of top 100 languages in 13th edition of Ethnologue (1996)
• Different lists of the most spoken languages (the Ethnologue list is from a previous, not the 2005, edition).
• Ethnologue - SIL's Ethnologue, widely referenced source for the world's languages
• Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People ( Archived 2009-10-31) - Encarta list, based on data from Ethnologue, but some figures (e.g. for Arabic) widely vary from it
• Top 30 languages of the world
• 30 most widely spoken world languages