In a world characterised by diversity, language stands as one of the most fascinating reflections of human culture and interaction. The mosaic of languages spoken across different countries not only showcases the richness of our global tapestry but also presents intriguing insights into geopolitical, historical, and sociocultural dynamics.
As we’re well into 2024, have you ever wondered how many languages there are in the world right now? There are now 7,164 known languages spoken by people worldwide, ranging from Italian to Japanese, from Afrikaans to Zulu, according to Ethnologue, which is regarded as the most comprehensive database of global languages. Regretfully, this figure drops each month. Ninety percent of these languages are only spoken by 100,000 or fewer people. Around the world, just 23 languages are spoken by over half of the population!
In this article, we delve into the latest statistics on languages spoken globally, focusing on their distribution across countries as of 2024.
The Significance of Language Diversity
Language serves as a fundamental tool for communication, identity, and expression. Each language encapsulates unique nuances, idioms, and cultural connotations, shaping the way individuals perceive and interact with the world around them. Moreover, languages are deeply intertwined with national identity and heritage, often serving as symbols of unity and belonging.
Understanding the linguistic landscape of different countries provides invaluable insights into their histories, colonial legacies, migration patterns, and economic interactions. From official state languages to minority dialects, the linguistic makeup of a nation reflects its complex tapestry of heritage, migration, and cultural exchange.
Official Languages: Reflecting National Identity
Many countries designate one or more official languages to symbolise their cultural, historical, or political heritage. These languages typically hold special status in government, education, and public discourse, reinforcing their significance in national identity and governance.
For instance, in Canada, both English and French hold official status, reflecting the country’s dual linguistic heritage and commitment to bilingualism. Similarly, Spain recognizes Spanish (Castilian) as its official language, alongside regional languages such as Catalan, Galician, and Basque, reflecting its diverse linguistic landscape.
In India, a multilingual nation with a rich tapestry of languages, Hindi and English serve as the official languages at the federal level, with each state having the freedom to designate its own official language(s) based on its linguistic demographics and cultural heritage.
Widely Spoken Languages: Connecting Cultures
While official languages hold institutional importance, the linguistic landscape of a country often extends far beyond its official decrees. Widely spoken languages, whether indigenous or adopted through historical legacies or economic imperatives, play a crucial role in everyday communication, commerce, and cultural exchange.
English, often hailed as the lingua franca and universal language of the modern world, enjoys widespread usage as a second language in many countries, facilitating global communication and commerce. From business negotiations to academic discourse, English (the most widely spoken language in the world with 1.4 billion speakers) serves as a bridge between speakers of diverse native tongues.
Similarly, Spanish, with its rich cultural heritage and global diaspora, boasts a large number of speakers (548+ million) across Latin America, Spain, and even the United States, where it holds unofficial but significant status in many regions.
Arabic, with its deep historical and religious significance, serves as the official language in numerous countries across the Middle East and North Africa, fostering a sense of cultural unity and identity among Arabic-speaking communities.
Read here: Why Learning Arabic Could Be Good for Business
Language Education: Shaping Linguistic Landscapes
The prevalence of languages spoken in a country is not merely a product of historical legacies or demographic factors but is also influenced by educational policies and economic imperatives. Major foreign languages, often taught in schools or universities, play a crucial role in shaping linguistic landscapes and fostering global competence among citizens.
For example, in China, the government has made significant investments in promoting the learning of English as a second language, recognizing its importance in global trade, diplomacy, and technological innovation. Similarly, Germany has seen a growing interest in the learning of Chinese Mandarin, driven by economic ties and opportunities in the global market.
Read here: Insights: Language Learning Trends in Schools
Protecting Linguistic Diversity: Preserving Minority Languages
While major languages dominate the global stage, the preservation of minority languages remains a pressing concern for linguists, anthropologists, and cultural activists. Minority languages, often spoken by indigenous or marginalised communities, embody unique cultural knowledge, traditions, and worldviews, deserving of recognition and protection.
Efforts to revitalise endangered languages, promote bilingual education, and safeguard linguistic diversity are underway in many countries, driven by a recognition of the intrinsic value of linguistic heritage and the rights of linguistic minorities to cultural expression and self-determination.
Language Statistics by Country
Below is a list of all the official languages for each country and the percentage rate of which they are spoken, according to The World Factbook.
Albania: Official Language: Albanian (98.8% – derived from Tosk dialect) Greek: 0.5% Other: 0.6% (including Macedonian, Romani, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian) Unspecified: 0.1% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian)
Algeria: Official Languages: Arabic, French (lingua franca), Tamazight (dialects include Kabyle, Shawiya, Mzab, Tuareg)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
American Samoa: Samoan: 87.9% English: 3.3% Tongan: 2.1% Other Pacific Islander: 4.1% Asian languages: 2.1% Other: 0.5% (2020 est.)
Note: Most people are bilingual
Andorra: Official Languages: Catalan, Castilian, Portuguese, French, English
Note: Data represent mother tongue
Angola: Official Language: Portuguese (71.2%) Other Languages: Umbundu, Kikongo, Kimbundu, Chokwe, Nhaneca, Nganguela, Fiote, Kwanhama, Muhumbi, Luvale, others
Note: Data represents most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2014 est.)
Anguilla: Official Language: English
Antigua and Barbuda: Official Languages: English, Antiguan Creole (an English-based creole)
Argentina: Official Language: Spanish Other Languages: Italian, English, German, French, Indigenous languages (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)
Major Language Sample: La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Armenia: Official Language: Armenian (97.9%) Other Languages: Kurmanji (spoken by Yezidi minority), Russian (widely spoken)
Major Language Sample: Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian)
Aruba: Official Language: Papiamento (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) Other Languages: Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, English
Australia: English: 72% Other Languages: Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, others
Note: Data represent language spoken at home
Austria: Official Language: German (88.6%) Other Languages: Turkish, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian
Major Language Sample: Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
Azerbaijan: Official Language: Azerbaijani (92.5%) Other Languages: Russian, Armenian, others
Major Language Sample: Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)
Note: Russian is widely spoken
Bahamas, The: Official Language: English Other Languages: Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Bahrain: Official Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
Bangladesh: Official Language: Bangla (98.8%) Other Languages: Various minority languages
Major Language Sample: বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla)
Barbados: Official Language: English Other Languages: Bajan (English-based creole language)
Belarus: Official Languages: Russian (71.4%), Belarusian (26%) Other Languages: Polish, Ukrainian, unspecified
Major Language Sample: Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian)
Belgium: Official Languages: Dutch (60%), French (40%), German (less than 1%)
Major Language Samples: Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Belize: Official Language: English Other Languages: Spanish, Maya languages (Q’eqchi’, Mopan), Creole
Benin: French: (official), Fon, Ge, Bariba, Yoruba, Dendi, Cotocoli, others
Major Language Sample: Le livre des faits mondiaux, la source indispensable d’informations de base. (French)
Bermuda: English: (official), Portuguese, Spanish, others
Bhutan: Official Language: Dzongkha (national), Tibetan (religious) Other Languages: Nepali (spoken by the Lhotsampa ethnic group), others
Major Language Sample: སྤྱི་འཐུས་གྱི་འགྲོ་སྔོན་འཛིན། མི་རི་དོར་དུ་དང་པོ། གསར་གཏང་ནི་ཡོད་པའི་ལུགས་ཀྱིས་གཞི་དག་བཞིན། (Dzongkha)
Bolivia: Official Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara Other Languages: Guarani
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Botswana: Setswana (official) 77.3%, Kalanga 7.4%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, Other 10.4% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Brazil: Portuguese: (official), German, Italian, Japanese, English, Spanish, Indigenous languages
Major Language Sample: O Livro de Factos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável de informação básica. (Portuguese)
British Virgin Islands: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Brunei: Malay: (official), English, Chinese
Bulgaria: Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, Other 0.7%, Unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Световната фактова книга, незаменим източник на основна информация. (Bulgarian)
Burkina Faso: French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Burma: Burmese: (official) Other Languages: Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Mon, Rohingya, Chin, Kachin, various dialects
Major Language Sample: ကမၻာ့ခန္႔မွာယူႏိုင္ေသာအခ်က္အလက္မ်ားအတြက္ မူရင္းေတြ၏အဂၤလိပ္စာ (Burmese)
Burundi: Kirundi: (official), French, Swahili Minority languages
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Cambodia: Khmer (official) Other Languages: French, English
Major Language Sample: សៀវភៅព័ត៌មានពិភពលោក, អ្នកផ្តល់ព័ត៌មានគណិតវិទ្យា (Khmer)
Cameroon: French (official), English (official), Cameroonian Pidgin English, and numerous indigenous languages
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Canada: English (official) 58.7%, French (official) 22%, Punjabi 1.4%, Italian 1.3%, Spanish 1.3%, German 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, Tagalog 1.2%, Arabic 1.1%, other 10.5% (2016 est.)
Major Language Samples: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English) Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Cabo Verde: Portuguese (official) Note: Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) is also recognized
Major Language Sample: O Livro de Factos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável de informação básica. (Portuguese)
Cayman Islands: English (official), Spanish
Central African Republic: French: (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Chad: French: (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Chile: Spanish: (official) Note: Mapudungun, German, English, French are official in regions with indigenous populations
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
China: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect) (official), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Major Language Sample: 世界事实手册，基本信息不可或缺的来源 (Chinese)
Colombia: Spanish: (official) Note: The indigenous languages are officially recognized; in regions with a significant indigenous population, they will be official too
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Comoros: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: French: (official) Note: The constitution decrees that the country has two national languages, Lingala and Kikongo, as well as Swahili, Luba, and Tshiluba. 240 others are spoken throughout the country.
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Republic of the Congo: French: (official) Note: The constitution decrees that the country has two national languages, Kituba and Lingala, as well as many ethnic languages.
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Costa Rica: Spanish: (official) Note: Mekatelyu (a form of Creole English) spoken in Limon Province, Bribri spoken in Talamanca area
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Croatia: Croatian: (official), Serbian, Italian, Hungarian
Major Language Sample: Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nezamjenjiv izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian)
Cuba: Spanish: (official) Note: The constitution states that “The national language is Spanish. Official use of the Spanish language by state institutions is obligatory, but the use of indigenous languages is also permitted and encouraged.”
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Curaçao: Papiamento (official), Dutch (official), English (official), Spanish
Cyprus: Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.9% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Το Βιβλίο των Παγκοσμίων Γεγονότων, η αναντικατάστατη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
Czech Republic: Czech (official)
Major Language Sample: Světová kniha faktů, nezbytný zdroj základních informací. (Czech)
Denmark: Danish (official), Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German is widely spoken
Major Language Sample: Verdens Factbook, den uundværlige kilde til grundlæggende information. (Danish)
Djibouti: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali (official), Afar (official), other Cushitic languages
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Dominica: English (official), French patois
Dominican Republic: Spanish (official)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Ecuador: Spanish: (official) Note: The constitution of 2008 states that “Spanish is Ecuador’s official language of intercultural relations.” Other languages “will be official where indigenous people constitute a majority of the population and in other areas as provided by the law.”
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Egypt: Arabic: (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
El Salvador: Spanish: (official)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Equatorial Guinea: Spanish: (official) Note: The constitution calls for the use of both Spanish and French, with French being the official language of regional administration and education, but the actual extent of French usage is limited.
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Eritrea: Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
Major Language Sample: መንግሥታ የአማርኛ ልዩ ዝርዝር፣ በተለያዩ መረጃ የመጀመሪያዎችን ማግኘት አድርጓል። (Tigrinya)
Estonia: Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Maailma faktiraamat, põhilise teabe hädavajalik allikas. (Estonian)
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland): Siswati (official) 88.8%, English (official) 8.2%, Zulu 1.5%, Afrikaans 0.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2007 est.)
Major Language Sample: Indvunye yesiShisi eliWuselele kanye neNkcubeko, inqubomgomo yesihloko seziNkcukacha. (Siswati)
Ethiopia: Amharic (official), Tigrinya (official), Oromo (official), other local languages, English (official)
Major Language Sample: የአማርኛ መንግስት መረጃ በመሆን፣ በተለያዩ መረጃ የመጀመሪያዎችን መረጃ አድርጓል። (Amharic)
Fiji: English (official), Fijian (official), Hindi, Urdu
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Finland: Finnish (official) 87.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.4%, other 5.5% (2017 est.)
Major Language Sample: Maailman Tietokirja, välttämätön lähde perustietoihin. (Finnish)
France: French: (official) Note: The constitution says that French is the official language of the Republic.
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
French Polynesia: French (official), Tahitian (official), other Polynesian languages
Gabon: French: (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Gambia, The: English: (official) Note: Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and other indigenous languages are also widely spoken
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Georgia: Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1.1% (2014 est.)
Major Language Sample: მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, სასაზღვრო ინფორმაციის არაჩვეულებრივი წყარო. (Georgian)
Germany: German: (official) Note: The minority languages recognized are Low German, Sorbian, Danish, Romani, and Frisian
Major Language Sample: Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
Ghana: English: (official) Note: There are over 250 languages and dialects spoken in Ghana, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in Africa.
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Gibraltar: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Greece: Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Το Βιβλίο των Παγκοσμίων Γεγονότων, η αναντικατάστατη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
Greenland: Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) (official) 87%, Danish (official) 13% (2018 est.)
Major Language Sample: Verdens Factbook, den uundværlige kilde til grundlæggende information. (Danish)
Grenada: English (official), French patois
Guam: English (official), Chamorro (official), Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, other Pacific island languages
Guatemala: Spanish: (official) Note: There are 23 officially recognized indigenous languages in Guatemala.
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Guernsey: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Guinea: French: (official), each ethnic group has its own language
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Guinea-Bissau: Portuguese: (official), Crioulo, African languages
Major Language Sample: O Livro de Factos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável de informação básica. (Portuguese)
Guyana: English: (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Haiti: French: (official) Note: Haitian Creole (Kreyol) is also an official language
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Holy See (Vatican City): Italian, Latin
Honduras: Spanish: (official) Note: English (Creole) is spoken along the northern coast and on the Bay Islands; there are also other Indigenous languages
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Hong Kong: Cantonese (official) 89.5%, English (official) 3.5%, Putonghua (Mandarin) 1.4%, other Chinese dialects 4%, other 1.6% (2016 est.)
Major Language Sample: 世界事實手冊，基本信息不可或缺的來源 (Chinese)
Hungary: Hungarian (official) 99.6%, English 16%, German 11%, Russian 1.2%, Romanian 1%, French 1% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: A Világ Ténykönyve, az alapvető információk nélkülözhetetlen forrása. (Hungarian)
Iceland: Icelandic (official)
Major Language Sample: Heimsbók Fyrirbæra, ómissandi uppspretta grunnupplýsinga. (Icelandic)
India: Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Odia 3.2%, Malayalam 2.9%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9% (Census of India, 2001) Note: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language
Indonesia: Bahasa Indonesia (official), English, Dutch, Javanese, and other regional languages
Major Language Sample: Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber informasi yang tidak bisa ditinggalkan. (Indonesian)
Iran: Persian (official) 53%, Azeri Turkic and Turkic dialects 18%, Kurdish 10%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 7%, Luri 6%, Balochi 2%, Arabic 2%, other 2% (2006 est.)
Major Language Sample: کتاب حقایق جهان، منبعی که نمیتوان از آن چشمپوشی کرد. (Persian)
Iraq: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkmen (official in Turkmen regions), Assyrian (official in Assyrian regions)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Ireland: Irish (official) 39.8%, English (official) 38.7%, Polish 1.7%, other 19.8% (2016 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Isle of Man: English, Manx Gaelic
Israel: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Major Language Sample: העולם של עובדות, מקור המידע הבסיסי שאי אפשר לוותר עליו (Hebrew)
Italy: Italian (official) 92%, German 0.6%, French 0.5%, Slovene 0.3%, Friulian 0.2%, Ladin 0.1%, other 6.3% (2017 est.)
Major Language Sample: Il Libro dei Fatti del Mondo, la fonte indispensabile di informazioni di base. (Italian)
Jamaica: English (official), Creole
Japan: Japanese (official)
Major Language Sample: 世界の事実、基本情報の欠かせない情報源 (Japanese)
Jersey: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Jordan: Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Kazakhstan: Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 71.7% (understand spoken language), Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the “language of interethnic communication”) 94.4% (understand spoken language) (2009 est.)
Major Language Sample: Дүниежүзі факттар кітабы, негізгі ақпараттық көзқарасшы. (Kazakh)
Kenya: Swahili (official), English (official), various ethnic languages
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Kiribati: English (official), I-Kiribati (Gilbertese)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Korea, North: Korean (official)
Major Language Sample: 세계사실북, 기본 정보의 필수 출처 (Korean)
Korea, South: Korean (official) Note: Korean is the official language used in South Korea, and is used in government and education
Major Language Sample: 세계사실북, 기본 정보의 필수 출처 (Korean)
Kosovo: Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Romani, Serbian Cyrillic, and Serbian Latin (official in municipalities where Serbs are 10% or more of the population)
Major Language Sample: Libri i Fakteve të Botës, burimi i pamohueshëm i informacionit bazë. (Albanian)
Kuwait: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz (official) 71.4%, Russian (official) 85.7% (2009 est.)
Major Language Sample: Дүйнө факттар китабы, аныктамалык маалыматтын маалыматтын күчү. (Kyrgyz)
Laos: Lao (official) Note: French, English, and various ethnic languages also spoken
Major Language Sample: ປື້ມຂໍ້ມູນໂລກ, ວິທະຍາສາດຂໍ້ມູນຫຼັກ. (Lao)
Latvia: Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6%, unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Pasaules faktogrāmata, neaizstājams avots pamatinformācijai. (Latvian)
Lebanon: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Lesotho: Sesotho (official) 52.8%, English (official) 42.2%, Zulu, Xhosa, other 5.1% (2006 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Liberia: English (official), 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Libya: Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Liechtenstein: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Lithuania: Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other 0.9%, unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Pasaulio faktų knyga, būtina informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian)
Luxembourg: Luxembourgish (national) 55.8%, Portuguese 15.7%, French (official) 12.1%, German (official) 3.1%, Italian 2.9%, English 2.1%, other 8.4% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
Macau: Cantonese 83.3%, Putonghua (Mandarin) 5%, other Chinese dialects 3.7%, Portuguese 1.5%, other 6.5% (2016 est.)
Major Language Sample: 世界事實手冊，基本信息不可或缺的來源 (Chinese)
Madagascar: Malagasy (official), French (official), English
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Malawi: Chichewa (official) 57.2%, Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (2015 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Malaysia: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note – in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Major Language Sample: Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber informasi yang tidak bisa ditinggalkan. (Malay)
Maldives: Maldivian Dhivehi (official) 98.4%, other 1.6% (2006 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Mali: French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peul/Foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, Bozo 2%, Tuareg 1%, other 6.3% (2009 est.)
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Malta: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
Major Language Sample: Il-Libro tal-Fatti tad-Dinja, l-irwol essenzjali ta’ informazzjoni. (Maltese)
Marshall Islands: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Martinique: French (official)
Mauritania: Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French (official), Hassaniya
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Mauritius: English (official), French (official), Creole, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Mayotte: French (official)
Mexico: Spanish (official)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Micronesia, Federated States of: English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Moldova: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Major Language Sample: Cartea Mondială a Faptelor, sursa indispensabilă de informații de bază. (Romanian)
Monaco: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Mongolia: Khalkha Mongol (official) 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999 est.)
Major Language Sample: Дэлхийн үеийн бичиг, үндэсний мэдээллийн эхний эх сургууль. (Mongolian)
Montenegro: Serbian (official) 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian (official) 5.3%, unspecified 3.7%, other 5.8% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Svjetski faktograf, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Montenegrin)
Montserrat: English (official)
Morocco: Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Mozambique: Emakhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 10.7%, Xichangana 10.3%, Cisena 7.5%, Elomwe 7%, Echuwabo 5.1%, other Mozambican languages 30.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 3% (2007 est.)
Major Language Sample: O Livro de Factos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável de informação básica. (Portuguese)
Myanmar: Burmese (official)
Major Language Sample: ကမ္ဘာ့ အဖွဲ့အစည်းများ၏ စာအုပ်ကို ဘီလို ဖြင့်လိုက်ရန်။ (Burmese)
Namibia: English (official) 7%, Afrikaans (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), German (common language of about 32% of the white population and used in various official capacities), Oshivambo languages (common language of about half of the population), indigenous languages (includes Damara 4.1%, Nama 4%, San languages 2.3%, other 1.7%). (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Nauru: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Nepal: Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar 3%, Bajjika 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: दुनियाँ को तथ्य पुस्तिका, आवश्यक जानकारीका स्रोत। (Nepali)
Netherlands: Dutch (official) 98.6%, English (official) 87%, German 18%, French 10%, Frisian 3%, other 3% (2017 est.)
Major Language Sample: Het World Factbook, de onmisbare bron van basisinformatie. (Dutch)
New Caledonia: French (official), 28 Melanesian-Polynesian languages
New Zealand: English (official) 96.1%, Maori (official) 3.7%, Samoan 2.3%, Hindi 1.7%, French 1.2%, Northern Chinese 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, Northern Chinese 1%, Mandarin 1%, other 12.9%, New Zealand Sign Language (official) (2018 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Nicaragua: Spanish (official) 97.5% (note: many in the business community speak English) Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Niger: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Nigeria: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Niue: Niuean (official) (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), English (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Norfolk Island: English (official)
North Macedonia: Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 est.)
Major Language Sample: Книгата на светски факти, непресушен извор на основни информации. (Macedonian)
Northern Mariana Islands: Chamorro (official) 22.2%, Carolinian (official) 4.3%, English (official) 2.1%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 32.9%, other languages 31.7% (2010 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Norway: Bokmål Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities, Northern Sami (official), Lule Sami, Kven
Major Language Sample: Verdens Factbook, den uundværlige kilde til grundlæggende information. (Danish)
Oman: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Pakistan: Punjabi 44.7%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Siraiki 8.4%, Urdu (official) 7.6%, Balochi 3.6%, Hindko 2.8%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 6.4%
Major Language Sample: دنیا فیکٹ بک، بنیادی معلومات کا غیر معمولی مرکز۔ (Urdu)
Palau: Palauan (official on most islands) 64.7%, Filipino 13.5%, English (official) 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.1% (2015 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Panama: Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabere (or Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (or Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (Gulf and Caribbean), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, and others
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Papua New Guinea: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 836 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world’s total); most languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Paraguay: Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Peru: Spanish (official) 84.1%, Quechua (official) 13%, Aymara (official) 1.7%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages) 0.7%, other (includes foreign languages and sign language) 0.2% (2007 est.)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Philippines: Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects – Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Major Language Sample: Ang World Factbook, ang hindi mawawalang pinagmulan ng pangunahing impormasyon. (Filipino)
Pitcairn Islands: English (official)
Poland: Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Portugal: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)
Major Language Sample: O Livro de Factos do Mundo, a fonte indispensável de informação básica. (Portuguese)
Puerto Rico: Spanish, English
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Qatar: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Reunion: French (official)
Romania: Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Cartea Mondială a Faptelor, sursa indispensabilă de informații de bază. (Romanian)
Russia: Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1% (2010 est.)
Major Language Sample: Книга фактов мира, источник базовой информации. (Russian)
Rwanda: Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) 1.7%, English (official) 0.7%, Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Saint Barthelemy: French (official)
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha: English
Saint Kitts and Nevis: English (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Saint Lucia: English (official), French patois
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Saint Martin: French (official), English, Dutch, Spanish
Saint Pierre and Miquelon: French (official)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: English, French patois
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Samoa: Samoan (official) 87.3% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 12.7%; Samoan and English are official languages for all official purposes
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
San Marino: Italian
Sao Tome and Principe: Portuguese (official)
Major Language Sample: O Livro de Factos do Mundo, a fonte indispensável de informação básica. (Portuguese)
Saudi Arabia: Arabic (official)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Senegal: French (official)
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Serbia: Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romany 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Светски фактограф, неопходан извор основних информација. (Serbian)
Seychelles: Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Sierra Leone: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Singapore: Mandarin (official) 36.3%, English (official) 29.8%, Malay (official) 11.9%, Hokkien 8.1%, Tamil (official) 4.4%, Cantonese 4.1%, Teochew 3.2%, other Indian languages 1.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.1%, other 1.1% (2015 est.)
Major Language Sample: 世界事实手册，基本信息不可或缺的来源 (Chinese)
Sint Maarten: Dutch (official), English (official), Spanish
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Slovakia: Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: Svetová faktografická kniha, nevyhnutný zdroj základných informácií. (Slovak)
Slovenia: Slovenian (official) 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)
Major Language Sample: Knjiga svetovnih dejstev, nedvomno vira osnovnih informacij. (Slovenian)
Solomon Islands: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Somalia: Somali (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter), Arabic (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter), Italian, English
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
South Africa: IsiZulu (official) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official) 16%, Afrikaans (official) 13.5%, English (official) 9.6%, Sepedi (official) 9.1%, Setswana (official) 8%, Sesotho (official) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official) 4.5%, siSwati (official) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands: English
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
South Sudan: English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants) (official), regional languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Spain: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, Aranese (Occitan) 0.3% (2012 est.)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Sri Lanka: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Sudan: Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Suriname: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Major Language Sample: De Wereldfeitenboek, de onmisbare bron van basisinformatie. (Dutch)
Svalbard: Norwegian (official)
Major Language Sample: Verdens Factbook, den uundværlige kilde til grundlæggende information. (Danish)
Swaziland: English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Sweden: Swedish (official) 72.7%, Finnish (official) 5.4%, Norwegian (official) 2.2%, English 1.8%, Arabic 1.3%, Kurdish 1.3%, other 9.8%, unspecified 5.4% (2018 est.)
Major Language Sample: Världsfaktaboken, den oumbärliga källan till grundläggande information. (Swedish)
Switzerland: German (official) 62.8%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8.2%, English 4.6%, Portuguese (official) 3.9%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 5.6% (2017 est.)
Major Language Sample: Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
Syria: Arabic (official)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Taiwan: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Major Language Sample: 世界事實手冊，基本信息不可或缺的來源 (Chinese)
Tajikistan: Tajik (official) 84.4% (Soviet-era Cyrillic script), Uzbek 11.9%, Russian 1.8%, Kyrgyz 0.6%, other 0.3%, unspecified 1% (2000 est.)
Major Language Sample: Китоби Фаҳмониёти Ҷаҳон, манбаи асосии маълумотҳои осониятӣ. (Tajik)
Tanzania: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Thailand: Thai (official) 91.5%, Burmese 1.2%, other 7.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2010 est.)
Major Language Sample: ตำราข้อสารจากโลก, แหล่งข้อมูลอันไม่ควรหายไป. (Thai)
Timor-Leste: Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Togo: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Major Language Sample: Le Livre des faits du monde, une source d’informations indispensable. (French)
Tokelau: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Tonga: Tongan (official), English (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Trinidad and Tobago: English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Tunisia: Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Turkey: Turkish (official) 87.6%, Kurdish 7.1%, Arabic 1.2%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.9% (2016 est.)
Major Language Sample: Dünya Gerçekleri Kitabı, temel bilgilerin vazgeçilmez kaynağı. (Turkish)
Turkmenistan: Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Turks and Caicos Islands: English (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Tuvalu: Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Uganda: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Ukraine: Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes small Crimean Tatar-, Moldavian-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 2.9% (2001 est.)
Major Language Sample: Книга світових фактів, невичерпний джерело базової інформації. (Ukrainian)
United Arab Emirates: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
United Kingdom: English (official) 98.2%, Welsh (official) 1.7%, Scots (official) 1.6%, Scottish Gaelic (official) 1.1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.5% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
United States: English 79.2%, Spanish 12.9%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 3.3%, other 0.9% (2011 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Uruguay: Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Uzbekistan: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% (1996 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Vanuatu: English (official), French (official), Bislama (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Vatican City: Latin, Italian, French, various other languages
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Venezuela: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Major Language Sample: El Libro de Hechos del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Vietnam: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Major Language Sample: Cuốn sách Tổng thế giới, nguồn thông tin cơ bản không thể thiếu. (Vietnamese)
Virgin Islands: English (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Wake Island: English (official)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Wallis and Futuna: Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
West Bank: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Western Sahara: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Yemen: Arabic (official)
Major Language Sample: كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية. (Arabic)
Zambia: Bemba 30.1%, Nyanja 10.7% (official), Tonga 10.6% (official), Lozi 5.7% (official), Chewa 4.9%, Nsenga 3.4%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (official) 2.2%, Kaonde (official) 2%, Lala 2%, Luvale (official) 1.7%, English (official) 1.7%, other 22.5% (2010 est.)
Major Language Sample: The World Factbook, the indispensable source of basic information. (English)
Zimbabwe: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
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The linguistic landscape of our world is as diverse and dynamic as the people who inhabit it. From official state languages to indigenous dialects, each language carries with it a rich tapestry of history, culture, and identity.
By exploring the global language statistics of different countries, we gain valuable insights into the complexities of human interaction, communication, and cultural exchange. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world, embracing linguistic diversity and fostering multilingualism will be crucial in promoting understanding, empathy, and cooperation across borders.
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