In this article, we will take a look at the 30 most spoken languages in the world in 2050. If you would like to skip our discussion on the global language trends, you can go to the 5 Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2050.
Predicting the distant future, especially twenty-five years from now, is challenging. However, one thing that is likely to remain consistent is the significance of languages. Regardless of technological advancements or shifting demographics, languages play a vital role in direct communication and through tools such as phones, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and social media. Analysts foresee the continued importance of languages, driven by factors like population growth, economic development, and geopolitical influence. It's widely agreed that many minor dialects and languages will likely fade away by 2050. Projections for the top 10 most important languages in 2050 show consistency, with slight variations in rankings. All current top 10 or 15 languages are expected to retain significance due to the influence of their populations, economies, and global impacts.
While the most spoken language in 2050 remains uncertain, the importance of different languages and countries in the global business economy will certainly shift. Among the fastest growing languages are Hindi, Urdu, and Portuguese due to the expanding populations of India, Brazil, and Pakistan. The count of native Portuguese speakers is expected to increase by 37% by 2050, primarily driven by the significant population of Brazil, which currently exceeds 211 million individuals. Additionally, both French and Italian are also predicted to experience growth at lower rates of 7% and 2%, respectively Meanwhile, Spanish ranks as the most sought-after foreign language by US employers, closely followed by Mandarin. In the UK alone, there was an average of 63,280 monthly searches related to learning foreign languages between August 2020 and July 2021. Among these searches, Britons conducted 14,800 monthly online searches using the keywords "Learn Spanish" and 8,100 using the keywords "Learn French."
The language learning industry is projected to expand significantly, particularly through smartphone applications and AI-related tools. The market valuation of the Global Language Learning Application industry stood at $3.69 trillion in 2022. The market is forecasted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.95% over the next five years to reach a value of $8.90 trillion by 2028. Platforms like Duolingo (NASDAQ:DUOL), Skillsoft Corp (NYSE:SKIL), and Coursera Inc (NYSE:COUR) are popular choices within the industry. One of the key challenges in learning a new language is mastering pronunciation. These companies use diverse methodologies to cater to such challenges while allowing learners the flexibility to progress at their own pace and comfort level. Studies indicate that 72% of working adults enroll in language learning courses not only to enhance their career prospects but also to improve communication with family members.
The growing language-learning market has contributed to better financial performance for many companies. Coursera Inc (NYSE:COUR) shared an update in its Q4 2023 earnings call:
"Our fourth quarter marked a strong finish to a year of continued progress. We welcome 24 million new learners, the most since 2020, growing our global learner base to more than 140 million. We expanded our educator partnerships to over 325 leading universities and companies. We grew revenue 21% over the prior year, with total annual revenue of $636 million, and we achieved this growth with increased leverage, including our first positive adjusted EBITDA quarter, delivering on our commitment to build a platform and business model that scales."
30 Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2050
Our Methodology
To shortlist the 30 most spoken languages in the world in 2050, we consulted a study conducted by Preply. The study used historical data from Ethnologue to project the number of native speakers for each language by the year 2050. Both exponential and linear growth models were used to consider two distinct growth scenarios: stagnant and increasing growth. The most spoken languages have been ranked in ascending order of the predicted numbers of native speakers by the year 2050.
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30 Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2050
30. Swahili
Native Speakers: 12.25 million
Swahili is a widely spoken language along the African east coast, spanning from Kenya to Tanzania. Native speakers of Swahili are referred to as "Waswahili," which specifically denotes their language affiliation.
29. Hausa
Native Speakers: 17.22 million
The Hausa language is spoken by the native Hausa tribe across the West and Central Africa. The Hausa are spread across Niger and Nigeria, where it is one of the three major ethnic languages.
28. Javanese
Native Speakers: 27.27 million
Javanese is a branch of the Austronesian language group, and it is spoken as a native language by the people living on Java Island in Indonesia. The language has regional dialects and several distinct styles.
27. Kannada
Native Speakers: 46.23 million
Kannada is a part of the Dravidian language group and is the official language of Karnataka state in southern India. It is also spoken in the bordering states around Karnataka. Kannada is among the oldest languages in the region.
26. German
Native Speakers: 49.56 million
German is the official language of Germany and Austria, and it is one of several official languages of Switzerland. Like English and Dutch, German is also an Indo-European language.
25. Bhojpuri
Native Speakers: 57.70 million
Bhojpuri is spoken in various dialects across Bihar, India, and Tarai, Nepal. Bhojpuri is particularly prevalent in the Chota Nagpur region of India.
24. Gujarati
Native Speakers: 59.68 million
Gujarati is an ancient language of the Indian subcontinent, officially recognized by the Indian constitution. The majority of Gujarati speakers originate from the Indian state of Gujarat. Significant Gujarati-speaking communities can also be found in the UK, the US, and Canada.
23. Thai
Native Speakers: 60.76 million
Thai is the official language of Thailand, and it is a member of the Tai language family found in Southeast Asia. The primary language is mainly used in Bangkok and the central region of Thailand. While variations in dialect exist, notably in northern and southern Thailand, they generally exhibit slight differences from the standard Thai language.
22. Italian
Native Speakers: 66.26 million
Italian is spoken by the majority of people in Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia. It has a significant presence throughout Europe. Italian acts as the official language of Italy and San Marino, and it is one of the official languages of Vatican City and Switzerland. Italian is also spoken in Italian communities across the United States, Brazil, and Argentina.
21. Tamil
Native Speakers: 71.68 million
Tamil is primarily spoken in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. It holds the status of an official language in Sri Lanka and Singapore. It is also spoken by settler populations in Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, and South Africa.
20. Telugu
Native Speakers: 83.06 million
Telugu is one of the Dravidian languages, widely spoken in southeastern India. It is the official language of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states.
19. French
Native Speakers: 85.28 million
French is at the nineteenth position on our list of the most spoken languages in the world in 2050. The language is predicted to have 85.28 million native speakers by 2050. The projected rise in the number of speakers for numerous languages, such as French, is expected to be further supported by the efforts of companies such as Duolingo (NASDAQ:DUOL), Skillsoft Corp (NYSE:SKIL), and Coursera Inc (NYSE:COUR).
18. Korean
Native Speakers: 87.61 million
Korean is spoken across North and South Korea, as well as by Korean communities in China, Japan, and the United States.
17. Vietnamese
Native Speakers: 95.22 million
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam and is part of the Austro-Asiatic language family. While there are minor variations across regions and dialects within Vietnam, the language maintains overall uniformity. Many Vietnamese words trace their origins to Chinese, and there is also some influence from the Tai language.
16. Urdu
Native Speakers: 102.41 million
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. It is predominantly spoken in Pakistan and India, with significant populations of Urdu speakers also found among immigrant workers and settlers in the UAE, the UK, Canada, and the US.
15. Wu Chinese
Native Speakers: 103.16 million
Wu Chinese is a dialect of Chinese primarily spoken in the regions of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang province in China. It is prevalent in major Chinese cities such as Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, Ningpo, and Wenzhou.
14. Russian
Native Speakers: 106.71 million
Russian is the primary language of Russia and is extensively spoken throughout all the former Soviet Union republics. The Russian script is based on the Cyrillic alphabet, which has close historical ties to the Greek script and alphabet.
13. Turkish
Native Speakers: 110.27 million
Modern Turkish has evolved from Ottoman Turkish and Old Anatolian Turkish. The language incorporates numerous Arabic and Persian words, as well as grammatical structures.
12. Punjabi
Native Speakers: 126.24 million
The Punjabi language belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and is officially recognized by the Indian government. It is widely spoken across the Indian state of Punjab and Pakistan's Punjab province. Additionally, another dialect known as Western Punjabi is experiencing rapid growth.
11. Marathi
Native Speakers: 131.66 million
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language widely spoken in western and central India. It is the official language of Maharashtra state.
10. Japanese
Native Speakers: 133.18 million
Japanese is notable for being an isolated language, meaning it has no direct connection to other language families. It is primarily spoken across all the islands of Japan. Additionally, Japanese immigrants have introduced the language to regions such as the United States, Canada, and various countries in South America. Japanese is among the top 10 most spoken languages in the world in 2050.
9. Indonesian
Native Speakers: 133.65 million
Indonesian languages are classed as Austronesian languages and broadly cover the languages spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other outlying areas.
8. Yue Chinese
Native Speakers: 186.20 million
Popularly known as Cantonese, Yue Chinese is spoken in Guangdong and southern Guangxi province. Internationally, it is spoken by settlers in Vietnam, the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.
7. Arabic
Native Speakers: 202.74 million
Modern Arabic is a derivative of classical Arabic, a Semitic language spoken in most regions where Islam has spread. It is currently spoken in North Africa and the Middle East and is the most common Semitic language. Arabic is at the seventh position on our list of the most spoken languages in the world in 2050.
6. Bengali
Native Speakers: 231.32 million
Bengali is the state language of Bangladesh and is spoken in the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, and Tripura. Bengali-speaking immigrant communities can be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and various countries in the Middle East.
