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.

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.

ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES HISPANIC OR LATINO AND RACE - DP05 Universe - Total population Survey-Program - American Community Survey 5-year estimates Years - 2020, 2021, 2022 The terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and “Spanish” are used interchangeably. Some respondents identify with all three terms while others may identify with only one of these three specific terms. People who identify with the terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” or “Spanish” are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish categories listed on the questionnaire (“Mexican, Mexican Am., or Chicano,” “Puerto Rican,” or “Cuban”) as well as those who indicate that they are “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.” People who do not identify with one of the specific origins listed on the questionnaire but indicate that they are “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin” are those whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, or another Spanish culture or origin. Origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before their arrival in the UnitedStates. People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race.

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 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.

Multivariable logistic regression modeling: Up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.

Combined Longitudinal Study of the Second Generation in Spain data set, Waves 1, 2, and 3. This is the publicly available version of the ILSEG data (ILSEG is the Spanish acronym for Investigación Longitudinal de la Segunda Generación, Longitudinal Study of the Second Generation). Questions address the situations and plans for the future of young Spaniards who are children of immigrants to Spain, who were living in Madrid and Barcelona and attending secondary school in 2007-2008 and the 2011-2012 and 2015-2016 follow ups). The longitudinal study of the second Generation (ILSEG in its Spanish initials) represents the first attempt to conduct a large-scale study of the adaptation of children of immigrants to Spanish society over time. To that end, a large and statistically representative sample of children born to foreign parents in Spain or those brought at an early age to the country was identified and interviewed in metropolitan Madrid and Barcelona for wave 1. In total, almost 7,000 children of immigrants attending basic secondary school in close to 200 educational centers in both cities took part in the study. Because of sample attrition, wave 2 introduced a replacement sample. Additionally, a native born sample of children of Spaniards was also included to enable comparisons between native and immigrant-origin populations of the same age cohort.Topics include basic demographics, national origins, Spanish language acquisition, foreign language knowledge and retention, parents' education and employment, respondents' education and aspirations, religion, household arrangements, life experiences, and attitudes about Spanish society. Demographic variables include age, sex, birth country, language proficiency (Spanish and Catalan), language spoken in the home, number of siblings, mother's and father's birth country, religion, national identity, parent's sex, parent's marital status, parent's birth year, and the year the parent arrived in Spain.

In 2022, around 48.59 percent of New Mexico's population was of Hispanic origin, compared to the national percentage of 19.45. California, Texas, and Arizona also registered shares over 30 percent. The distribution of the U.S. population by ethnicity can be accessed here.

Sample characteristics of the participants (N = 180).

US Language Learner Market size was estimated at USD 74.06 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 234.55 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.50% from 2024 to 2031.

Key Market Drivers • Increase in Globalized Communication: Heightened demand for multilingual communication skills is observed due to the growing interconnectedness of the world, fostered by international trade and travel. This demand is particularly true in the US, where businesses are increasingly operated on a global scale. As a result, the need to learn new languages to effectively collaborate with international partners is driven by globalization. • Evolving Educational Landscape: A shift towards incorporating language learning at a younger age is being observed in the educational system in the US. This shift is driven by a recognition of the cognitive benefits of multilingualism and the growing importance of foreign languages in the job market. As a result, language learning at a foundational level is exposed to a larger segment of the US population, creating a more fertile ground for continued language acquisition later in life. • Technological Advancements in Learning Methods: The rise of mobile technology and online learning platforms has significantly impacted the US language learner market. Language learning has been made more accessible and convenient than ever before by these advancements. A vast array of interactive and personalized language courses can now be accessed by learners on their own time and schedule. This surge in language learning participation within the US is fueled by this ease of access. • Growing Hispanic Population: A significant and rapidly growing Hispanic population is observed in the US. This demographic shift has led to a heightened demand for Spanish language learning within the country. Spanish language skills are increasingly seen as valuable not only for personal communication but also for professional opportunities in a diverse workforce. The growth of the Spanish language learning segment within the US market is propelled by this demand.

In 2024, it was estimated that approximately 662 million people lived in Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil is the most populated country in the region, with an estimated 211.999 million inhabitants in that year, followed by Mexico with more than 130.861 million.

NOTE: For information on confidentiality protection, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/doc/cd113.pdf..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census..X Not applicable. .[1] Other Asian alone, or two or more Asian categories. .[2] Other Pacific Islander alone, or two or more Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander categories. .[3] One of the four most commonly reported multiple-race combinations nationwide in Census 2000. .[4] In combination with one or more of the other races listed. The six numbers may add to more than the total population, and the six percentages may add to more than 100 percent because individuals may report more than one race. .[5] This category is composed of people whose origins are from the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Spanish-speaking Central or South American countries. It also includes general origin responses such as "Latino" or "Hispanic." .[6] "Spouse" represents spouse of the householder. It does not reflect all spouses in a household. Responses of "same-sex spouse" were edited during processing to "unmarried partner." .[7] "Family households" consist of a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. Same-sex couple households are included in the family households category if there is at least one additional person related to the householder by birth or adoption. Same-sex couple households with no relatives of the householder present are tabulated in nonfamily households. "Nonfamily households" consist of people living alone and households which do not have any members related to the householder. .[8] The homeowner vacancy rate is the proportion of the homeowner inventory that is vacant "for sale." It is computed by dividing the total number of vacant units "for sale only" by the sum of owner-occupied units, vacant units that are "for sale only," and vacant units that have been sold but not yet occupied; and then multiplying by 100. .[9] The rental vacancy rate is the proportion of the rental inventory that is vacant "for rent." It is computed by dividing the total number of vacant units "for rent" by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are "for rent," and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied; and then multiplying by 100. . Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress), Tables P5, P6, P8, P12, P13, P17, P19, P20, P25, P29, P31, P34, P37, P43, PCT5, PCT8, PCT11, PCT12, PCT19, PCT23, PCT24, H3, H4, H5, H11, H12, and H16.

In 2023, around 43.37 million people in the United States spoke Spanish at home. In comparison, approximately 998,179 people were speaking Russian at home during the same year. 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 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.

NOTE: For information on confidentiality protection, nonsampling error, and definitions, see https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/rdo/technical-documentation/CD115_TechnicalDocumentation.pdf..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census..X Not applicable. .[1] Other Asian alone, or two or more Asian categories. .[2] Other Pacific Islander alone, or two or more Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander categories. .[3] One of the four most commonly reported multiple-race combinations nationwide in Census 2000. .[4] In combination with one or more of the other races listed. The six numbers may add to more than the total population, and the six percentages may add to more than 100 percent because individuals may report more than one race. .[5] This category is composed of people whose origins are from the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Spanish-speaking Central or South American countries. It also includes general origin responses such as "Latino" or "Hispanic." .[6] "Spouse" represents spouse of the householder. It does not reflect all spouses in a household. Responses of "same-sex spouse" were edited during processing to "unmarried partner." .[7] "Family households" consist of a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. Same-sex couple households are included in the family households category if there is at least one additional person related to the householder by birth or adoption. Same-sex couple households with no relatives of the householder present are tabulated in nonfamily households. "Nonfamily households" consist of people living alone and households which do not have any members related to the householder. .[8] The homeowner vacancy rate is the proportion of the homeowner inventory that is vacant "for sale." It is computed by dividing the total number of vacant units "for sale only" by the sum of owner-occupied units, vacant units that are "for sale only," and vacant units that have been sold but not yet occupied; and then multiplying by 100. .[9] The rental vacancy rate is the proportion of the rental inventory that is vacant "for rent." It is computed by dividing the total number of vacant units "for rent" by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are "for rent," and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied; and then multiplying by 100. . Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Congressional District Summary File (115th Congress), Tables P5, P6, P8, P12, P13, P17, P19, P20, P25, P29, P31, P34, P37, P43, PCT5, PCT8, PCT11, PCT12, PCT19, PCT23, PCT24, H3, H4, H5, H11, H12, and H16.

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.

In 2024, the total population of Spain was around 48.38 million people. By 2029, it was forecast to grow up to 50.76 million inhabitants.

Population of Spain While Spain’s fertility rate has been relatively decreasing over the past decade, its year-over-year population growth has been increasing continuously since 2016. The collapse of the job and real estate markets may have led the Spanish to postpone having (more) kids or to migrate to other countries in search of a more stable economy, while inflow of migrates has increased . This theory is supported by data on the average age of Spain’s inhabitants; a look at the median age of Spain’s population from 1950 up until today shows that the Spanish get older on average – perhaps due to the aforementioned factors.

Economic recovery Speaking of Spain’s economy, economic key factors suggest that the country is still recovering from the crisis. Its gross domestic product (GDP) was in admirable shape prior to the collapse, but it still has not returned to its former glory. Only recently has Spain reported actual GDP growth since 2008. Nevertheless, during 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain's GDP had a decrease of more than 11 percent. This in turn, led to an increase of the country’s unemployment rate after years of slowly but surely decreasing following an alarming peak of 26 percent in 2013. Future perspectives are, however, somewhat brighter, as GDP is forecast to maintain a positive growth rate at least until 2029, even exceeding two percentage points in 2025.

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.