Mexico is the country with the largest number of native Spanish speakers in the world. As of 2024, 132.5 million people in Mexico spoke Spanish with a native command of the language. Colombia was the nation with the second-highest number of native Spanish speakers, at around 52.7 million. Spain came in third, with 48 million, and Argentina fourth, with 46 million. Spanish, a world language As of 2023, Spanish ranked as the fourth most spoken language in the world, only behind English, Chinese, and Hindi, with over half a billion speakers. Spanish is the official language of over 20 countries, the majority on the American continent, nonetheless, it's also one of the official languages of Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Other countries have a strong influence, like the United States, Morocco, or Brazil, countries included in the list of non-Hispanic countries with the highest number of Spanish speakers. The second most spoken language in the U.S. In the most recent data, Spanish ranked as the language, other than English, with the highest number of speakers, with 12 times more speakers as the second place. Which comes to no surprise following the long history of migrations from Latin American countries to the Northern country. Moreover, only during the fiscal year 2022. 5 out of the top 10 countries of origin of naturalized people in the U.S. came from Spanish-speaking countries.

The United States is the non-hispanic country with the largest number of native Spanish speakers in the world, with approximately 41.89 million people with a native command of the language in 2024. However, the European Union had the largest group of non-native speakers with limited proficiency of Spanish, at around 28 million people. Furthermore, Mexico is the country with the largest number of native Spanish speakers in the world as of 2024.

The United States is the country with the largest number of Spanish language students, at approximately 8.59 million people in 2024. The second country is Brazil, with around 4.05 million students of the Spanish language. Moreover, the United States is also the non-hispanic country with the largest number of native Spanish speakers in the world.

In 2025, there were around 1.53 billion people worldwide who spoke English either natively or as a second language, slightly more than the 1.18 billion Mandarin Chinese speakers at the time of survey. Hindi and Spanish accounted for the third and fourth most widespread languages that year. Languages in the United States The United States does not have an official language, but the country uses English, specifically American English, for legislation, regulation, and other official pronouncements. The United States is a land of immigration, and the languages spoken in the United States vary as a result of the multicultural population. The second most common language spoken in the United States is Spanish or Spanish Creole, which over than 43 million people spoke at home in 2023. There were also 3.5 million Chinese speakers (including both Mandarin and Cantonese),1.8 million Tagalog speakers, and 1.57 million Vietnamese speakers counted in the United States that year. Different languages at home The percentage of people in the United States speaking a language other than English at home varies from state to state. The state with the highest percentage of population speaking a language other than English is California. About 45 percent of its population was speaking a language other than English at home in 2023.

In 2023, California had the highest Hispanic population in the United States, with over 15.76 million people claiming Hispanic heritage. Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois rounded out the top five states for Hispanic residents in that year. History of Hispanic people Hispanic people are those whose heritage stems from a former Spanish colony. The Spanish Empire colonized most of Central and Latin America in the 15th century, which began when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492. The Spanish Empire expanded its territory throughout Central America and South America, but the colonization of the United States did not include the Northeastern part of the United States. Despite the number of Hispanic people living in the United States having increased, the median income of Hispanic households has fluctuated slightly since 1990. Hispanic population in the United States Hispanic people are the second-largest ethnic group in the United States, making Spanish the second most common language spoken in the country. In 2021, about one-fifth of Hispanic households in the United States made between 50,000 to 74,999 U.S. dollars. The unemployment rate of Hispanic Americans has fluctuated significantly since 1990, but has been on the decline since 2010, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In 2020, about 93.8 percent of the Mexican population was monolingual in Spanish. Around five percent spoke a combination of Spanish and indigenous languages. Spanish is the third-most spoken native language worldwide, after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi. Mexican Spanish Spanish was first being used in Mexico in the 16th century, at the time of Spanish colonization during the Conquest campaigns of what is now Mexico and the Caribbean. As of 2018, Mexico is the country with the largest number of native Spanish speakers worldwide. Mexican Spanish is influenced by English and Nahuatl, and has about 120 million users. The Mexican government uses Spanish in the majority of its proceedings, however it recognizes 68 national languages, 63 of which are indigenous. Indigenous languages spoken Of the indigenous languages spoken, two of the most widely used are Nahuatl and Maya. Due to a history of marginalization of indigenous groups, most indigenous languages are endangered, and many linguists warn they might cease to be used after a span of just a few decades. In recent years, legislative attempts such as the San Andréas Accords have been made to protect indigenous groups, who make up about 25 million of Mexico’s 125 million total inhabitants, though the efficacy of such measures is yet to be seen.

Based on land area, Brazil is the largest country in Latin America by far, with a total area of over 8.5 million square kilometers. Argentina follows with almost 2.8 million square kilometers. Cuba, whose surface area extends over almost 111,000 square kilometers, is the Caribbean country with the largest territory.

Brazil: a country with a lot to offer

Brazil's borders reach nearly half of the South American subcontinent, making it the fifth-largest country in the world and the third-largest country in the Western Hemisphere. Along with its landmass, Brazil also boasts the largest population and economy in the region. Although Brasília is the capital, the most significant portion of the country's population is concentrated along its coastline in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

South America: a region of extreme geographic variation

With the Andes mountain range in the West, the Amazon Rainforest in the East, the Equator in the North, and Cape Horn as the Southern-most continental tip, South America has some of the most diverse climatic and ecological terrains in the world. At its core, its biodiversity can largely be attributed to the Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest, and the Amazon river, the world's largest river. However, with this incredible wealth of ecology also comes great responsibility. In the past decade, roughly 80,000 square kilometers of the Brazilian Amazon were destroyed. And, as of late 2019, there were at least 1,000 threatened species in Brazil alone.

In 2023, a Spanish-language e-book cost on average ***** euros in Spain, where such e-books were the most expensive in comparison to other Spanish-speaking countries. Mexico and Peru followed, where Spanish-language e-books cost an average of *** euros and *** euros respectively.

Europe Online Language Learning Market, by Learning Mode (Self-learning Apps, Tutoring), Age Group, Language (English, Mandarin, Spanish), End User (Individual Learners, Educational Institutions), and Country - Forecast to 2032

As of 2023, around 37.99 million people of Mexican descent were living in the United States - the largest of any Hispanic group. Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Cubans, and Dominicans rounded out the top five Hispanic groups living in the U.S. in that year.

We used event-related potentials to investigate morphosyntactic development in 78 adult English-speaking learners of Spanish as a second language (L2) across the proficiency spectrum. We examined how development is modulated by the similarity between the native language (L1) and the L2, by comparing number (a feature present in English) and gender agreement (novel feature). We also investigated how development is impacted by structural distance, manipulating the distance between the agreeing elements by probing both within-phrase (fruta muy jugosa “fruit-FEM-SG very juicy-FEM-SG”) and across-phrase agreement (fresa es ácida “strawberry-FEM-SG is tart-FEM-SG”). Regression analyses revealed that the learners’ overall proficiency, as measured by a standardized test, predicted their accuracy with the target properties in the grammaticality judgment task (GJT), but did not predict P600 magnitude to the violations. However, a relationship emerged between immersion in Spanish-speaking countries and P600 magnitude for gender. Our results also revealed a correlation between accuracy in the GJT and P600 magnitude, suggesting that behavioral sensitivity to the target property predicts neurophysiological sensitivity. Subsequent group analyses revealed that the highest-proficiency learners showed equally robust P600 effects for number and gender. This group also elicited more positive waveforms for within- than across-phrase agreement overall, similar to the native controls. The lowest-proficiency learners showed a P600 for number overall, but no effects for gender. Unlike the highest-proficiency learners, they also showed no sensitivity to structural distance, suggesting that sensitivity to such linguistic factors develops over time. Overall, these results suggest an important role for proficiency in morphosyntactic development, although differences emerged between behavioral and electrophysiological measures. While L2 proficiency predicted behavioral sensitivity to agreement, development with respect to the neurocognitive mechanisms recruited in processing only emerged when comparing the two extremes of the proficiency spectrum. Importantly, while both L1-L2 similarity and hierarchical structure impact development, they do not constrain it.

Language Immersion Homestays Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the Global Language Immersion Homestays market size was valued at $2.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $6.1 billion by 2033, expanding at a robust CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. A major growth driver for this market globally is the increasing recognition of immersive language learning as the most effective method for achieving fluency, especially in a world that is becoming ever more interconnected. As international mobility, cross-border education, and global workforce demands rise, both individuals and institutions are prioritizing authentic language acquisition experiences. This trend is further amplified by the growing accessibility of homestay programs via digital platforms, making it easier for learners of all ages to access tailored immersion opportunities worldwide.

Regional Outlook

Europe currently holds the largest share of the global Language Immersion Homestays market, accounting for approximately 38% of total revenue in 2024. This region’s dominance is attributed to its mature travel and education infrastructure, strong governmental support for multilingualism, and a long-standing tradition of international student exchanges. Key countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany have established themselves as premier destinations for immersion programs, offering a wide variety of languages and cultural experiences. The presence of renowned academic institutions, coupled with progressive visa policies and robust quality assurance frameworks, further cements Europe’s leadership. Additionally, the continent’s diverse linguistic landscape and established homestay networks foster a thriving ecosystem that attracts students, professionals, and tourists alike, seeking authentic language immersion.

Asia Pacific is emerging as the fastest-growing region, projected to expand at a remarkable CAGR of 12.1% through 2033. This growth is driven by burgeoning demand from countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and India, where rising middle-class incomes and increasing aspirations for global education and employment are fueling outbound and inbound participation in language immersion homestays. Governments in this region are actively investing in internationalization initiatives, language proficiency programs, and bilateral exchange agreements. The proliferation of digital booking channels and the rapid expansion of travel infrastructure are also facilitating greater participation. As English, Mandarin, and other Asian languages gain global significance, Asia Pacific is poised to become a pivotal hub for both sending and receiving language learners, further accelerating market growth.

Emerging economies in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa are experiencing a gradual but steady adoption of language immersion homestays. In these regions, challenges such as limited awareness, regulatory complexities, and infrastructural constraints have historically hampered growth. However, localized demand is rising, particularly among urban youth and professionals seeking global mobility and competitive language skills. Policy reforms aimed at enhancing educational exchange, combined with targeted marketing by homestay providers, are beginning to yield results. Additionally, the increasing availability of scholarships, government-backed language initiatives, and partnerships with international organizations are gradually overcoming barriers, paving the way for higher adoption rates in the coming years.

Report Scope

Abstract

The World Values Survey (www.worldvaluessurvey.org) is a global network of social scientists studying changing values and their impact on social and political life, led by an international team of scholars, with the WVS association and secretariat headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. The survey, which started in 1981, seeks to use the most rigorous, high-quality research designs in each country. The WVS consists of nationally representative surveys conducted in almost 100 countries which contain almost 90 percent of the world’s population, using a common questionnaire. The WVS is the largest non-commercial, cross-national, time series investigation of human beliefs and values ever executed, currently including interviews with almost 400,000 respondents. Moreover the WVS is the only academic study covering the full range of global variations, from very poor to very rich countries, in all of the world’s major cultural zones. The WVS seeks to help scientists and policy makers understand changes in the beliefs, values and motivations of people throughout the world. Thousands of political scientists, sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists and economists have used these data to analyze such topics as economic development, democratization, religion, gender equality, social capital, and subjective well-being. These data have also been widely used by government officials, journalists and students, and groups at the World Bank have analyzed the linkages between cultural factors and economic development.

Geographic coverage

The Survey covers Spain.

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual

Universe

The WVS5 for Spain covers national population, aged 18 years and over, for both sexes.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sample stratification: The selection criteria was that of proportional distribution of interviews among the 17 Autonomous Regions according to their population and to community size within each region. Those municipalities with more than 500,000 inhabitants are of compulsory selection; the rest come out from a random draw. The same number of interviews per Autonomous Region is kept in each study. The only Autonomous Regions that always have interviews at all levels of community size are: Andalucía, Cataluña and País Valenciano. The strata of the other regions are drawn each month. The number of interviews that proportionally corresponds to each province and type of community is also taken into consideration within each Autonomous Region. Moreover, we keep track of the population settlements that are selected so that they are not repeated, and in large cities we distribute the interviews among the districts. Household selection: once the number of interviews to be done has been established (by size of community and Autonomous Region), we use a computerised system to randomly extract municipalities and electoral sections within them. The number of electoral sections randomly selected is related to the total number of interviews to carry out in the municipality. A random route system is applied for household selection; in all the buildings that the interviewer passes by (on either side of the street, depending on the side where the starting point is), one every three housings is selected; in case of refusal or non-contact, the interviewer goes to the next household. Respondents selection: age and sex quotas are used for the respondents selection. These quotas are established in each sampling point according to the cross between size of community and age and sex at national level and also at regional level in the three regions above mentioned (Cataluña, Andalucía, País Valenciano). In the other regions the distribution is proportional.

Remarks about sampling: At the very end of the selection process, when interviewer is accepted into a household. Some sampling experts would not considered this as quota, but as another process of stratification of the sample. Please write in: Distribution according to population in each region, and within the region, according to size of place, and at the household level, according to sex/age distribution of population in each region. After three attemps to get the interview in a household, and substitution is always made within the same building. (Most housing is in apartments buildings). Given the the sampling design that was used, multiple-stage stratified sampling, with random routes, the aim was to obtain 1,200 interviews, but interviewers were given a number of interviews higher, 1,300, counting on refusals and non productive contacts and counting also on substitution after three attempts. That is why the sum of non-completed interviews and completed interviews do no add up to the starting size of 1,300.

The sample size for Spain is N=1200 and includes national population, aged 18 years and over, for both sexes.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

WVS question number or description of question: V100 TO V103 WERE EXCLUDED V108 TO V110 WERE EXCLUDED V166 TO V169 ONE OF THE ANSWER CATEGORIES WAS OMITTED: INADEQUATE EDUCATION Reason(s) not included: To reduce length of questionnaires it was an unfortunate error in editing the questionnaire.

Response rate

1300 Total number of starting names/addresses 27 - selected respondent too sick/incapacitated to participate 11 - selected respondent away during survey period 13 - selected respondent had inadequate understanding of language of survey 139 - no contact at selected address 24 - refusal at selected address 57 - personal refusal by selected respondent 1213 - full productive interview

As of October 2025, English was the dominant language for online content, used by nearly half of all websites worldwide. Spanish ranked second, accounting for around 6 percent of web content, followed by German with 5.9 percent. English as the leading online language United States and India, the countries with the most internet users after China, are also the world's biggest English-speaking markets. The internet user base in both countries combined, as of January 2023, was over a billion individuals. This has led to most of the online information being created in English. Consequently, even those who are not native speakers may use it for convenience. Global internet usage by regions As of October 2024, the number of internet users worldwide was 5.52 billion. In the same period, Northern Europe and North America were leading in terms of internet penetration rates worldwide, with around 97 percent of its populations accessing the internet.

In 2024, some 45 million people in the United States spoke Spanish at home. In comparison, the second most spoken non-English language spoken by households was Chinese, at just 3.7 million speakers.The distribution of the U.S. population by ethnicity can be accessed here. A ranking of the most spoken languages across the world can be accessed here.

In 2023, sales of e-books in Spanish across Latin America generated around **** million euros in revenue, of which **** million came from Mexico. Chile followed with sales revenue of **** million euros of the total.

Argentina scored 562 out of a maximum of 800 points in the English Proficiency Index 2023. That was the highest score among all Latin American countries included in the survey. The Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, also received the highest English proficiency score among all the Latin American cities analyzed. Mexico and Haiti received the lowest scores in the region.

As of August 2025, Brazil was home to ****** million Facebook users. In Latin America, it was followed by Mexico and Colombia with approximately *** million and ** million Facebook users, respectively. In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic was the country with the largest number of people on the social media platform. Facebook’s forecasted future Brazil is expected to continue building up its Facebook audience in the coming years. It is estimated that by 2025, the South American nation will reach nearly ***** million users on the social network. By that same year, more than ***** million Mexicans are forecast to be on Facebook, according to another source. Despite such awaited growth, Facebook’s market share decreased in most of the six largest Latin American countries between 2019 and 2020 – the exception was Chile, where an increase of *** percent was recorded. Concurrently, Instagram, also owned by Facebook, Inc., experienced an increase in its market share across the region. Pandemic Facebook posting In March 2020, when COVID-19 was officially characterized by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, Facebook users in Brazil made nearly ** percent more posts than they had during the same month a year prior. Furthermore, the contents of posts addressing the virus, made during the month of March throughout Latin America, were more visual than textual. Namely, ** percent of posts using the words ‘coronavirus’ or ‘COVID-19’ consisted of videos and almost ********* of them contained photos, whereas only *** percent included users’ statuses. At that same time, Latin American governments flocked to the social network to communicate with the region's inhabitants, increasing their Facebook posting behavior by almost ** percent in one year.

In 2023, Spanish-language e-books sold in Spain made up **** percent of the global Spanish-language e-book sales revenue. Mexico was the second largest market with over ** percent of the global sales. The United States ranked third.

The Catalan and Spanish languages coexist in the coastal region of Catalonia, both enjoying official and equal status. As of 2024, more than ** percent of the population of Catalonia considered Spanish their mother tongue, whereas less than ** percent reported being native speakers of Catalan. Catalonia was the second most populous autonomous community in Spain in 2024 with about * million people. Editorial scene in Catalonia Despite the fact that the vast majority of books in Spain are published in Spanish, the Catalan language ranked second in the country’s editorial scene at about * percent of book publications, revealing the weight of this language among other languages spoken in Spain. In fact, Catalan was one of the most translated languages in this country according to the latest studies. Catalonia in Spain The Catalan participation in the Spanish GDP was estimated at ** percent in 2023. This figure maintained steadily over the last few years, with an average share of about ** percent of the total GDP of the country. The average GDP per capita in Catalonia was significantly higher than that of the rest of Spain at ****** euros in 2022. During the same period, Spain’s average GDP per capita was ****** euros.