List of languages by total speakers

This article requires attention because it may contain inaccuracies.
A Wikipedian has nominated this article to be for accuracy. Currently there may not be a , but the content may need discussion on the talk page.

This is a list of languages ordered by number of first-language speakers, with some data for second-language use. Only languages spoken natively by more than one million are listed. Some listings are not single languages in the sense of being mutually intelligible (e.g. Chinese, Arabic), while in other cases mutually intelligible idioms with separate national standards, or separate self identification, have been listed separately (e.g. Scandinavian, Hindustani, Malay). Data are not all up to date.

For a comparison of various estimates, see Language speaker data.

1 100 million native speakers or more
2 30–100 million native speakers
3 10–30 million native speakers
4 3–10 million native speakers
5 1–3 million native speakers
6 See also

100 million native speakers or more

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Chinese	Sino-Tibetan	People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Singapore. Significant communities in Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam	All Chinese, 1080 million native (1999): Mandarin 873 million native, 178 million second language, = 1,051 million total (1999 WA); Shanghainese (Wu) 77 million (1984: no recent data); Cantonese (Yue) 55 million (1984: no recent data); Southern Min (Taiwanese) 46 million (1984: no recent data); Jin 45 million (1995); Xiang 36 million (1984: no recent data); Hakka 30 million (1984: no recent data); Gan 21 million (1984: no recent data); Northern Min (Fuzhou) 10.3 million (1984: no recent data); Eastern Min 9.1 million (2000 WCD); Hui 3.2 million; Pu-Xian Min 2.6 million (2000 WCD).
Hindi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India. Significant communities in Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Guyana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen, Zambia	370 million native, 120 million second language, = 490 total (Indiana University 2003, WA 2004); 495 million total (WA 2005). Western and Eastern Hindi, including Awadhi (21 million, 1999), Bhojpuri (27 million, 1997), Chhattisgarhi (11 million, 1997), Haryanvi (13 million, 1992), Kanauji (6 million, 1977), Marwari (13 million, 2002), Magahi (13 million, 2002), Maithili (25 million, 1981). (Note: Maithili is the official language of Bihar, but often considered a dialect of Hindi)
Spanish	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Iberian	Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela. Significant communities in Andorra, Aruba, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Gibraltar, Israel, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Virgin Islands	~350 million native, 70 million second language, = 420 million total (Indiana University 2003); ~360 million native (new WA 2004 figure); 320 million native, 425 million total (WA 2005 [reverted to 1999 data])
English	Indo-European, Germanic, West, Anglic	American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe	340 million native, 510 million total (Indiana University 2003, WA 2004); 310 million native, 515 million total (WA 2005 [reverted to 1999 data])
Arabic	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South Central	Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, Yemen. Significant communities in Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Iran, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States	206 million native, 24 million second language, = 230 million total, for all varieties of Arabic, including Maltese (WA 1999); 255 million total (2005 WA). Egyptian Arabic: 46 million native.
Portuguese	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Iberian	Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé e Príncipe. Significant communities in Andorra, Bermuda, Canada, France, India (Daman and Goa), Luxembourg, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, Paraguay, South Africa, Switzerland, and Venezuela	206 million native, 12 million second language, = 218 million (not counting 4 million Galician); 195 million (2005 WA)
Bengali	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Magadhan, Assamese-Bengali	Bangladesh, India (West Bengal). Significant communities in Burma, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates	196 million native, counting 14 million Chittagonian, 10.3 million Sylheti (1994 UBS); 211 million total (1999 WA); 215 million total (2005 WA)
Russian	Indo-European, Slavic, East	Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan. Significant communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan	145 million native (1999 WA), 110 million second language, = 255 million total (2000, WCD)
Japanese	Japonic	Japan. Significant communities in Brazil, Philippines, United States	122 million native (1999 WA), 1 million second language (Ryukyuan)
Punjabi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone (Eastern Punjabi) or North-Western Zone (Western Punjabi)	India, Pakistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States	Western: 61–62 million (2000, WCD); Eastern: 28 million; Siraiki 14 million, = 104 million total

30–100 million native speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
German	Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German	Austria, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland. Significant communities in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Russia, United States	95 million native, 28 million second language, = 123 million total (not including Swiss German)
Javanese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Sundic	Indonesia (especially Java), Malaysia. Significant communities in Netherlands, New Caledonia, Singapore, Suriname	76 million
Korean	Language isolate	North Korea, South Korea. Significant communities in Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Philippines, Russia United States	71 million
Vietnamese	Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong	Vietnam. Significant communities in Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, China, France, Germany, Laos, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Philippines, Poland,Russia, Senegal, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu	70 million native, perhaps up to 16 million second language, = ~ 86 million total
Telugu	Dravidian, South Central	India (Andhra Pradesh). Significant communities in Bahrain, Fiji, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United States	70 million native, 5 million second language, = 75 million total (1997)
Marathi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone	India (Maharashtra). Significant communities in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, and in Israel and Mauritius.	68 million native, 3 million second language, = 71 million total
Tamil	Dravidian, Southern	India (Tamil Nadu), Singapore, Sri Lanka. Significant communities in Bahrain, Fiji, Malaysia, Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa, United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom, United States	68 million native, 9 million second language, = 77 million total
French	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Oïl	Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Kinshasa, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Guadaloupe, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Monaco, New Caledonia, Réunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Vanuatu. Significant communities in Algeria, Cambodia, Guernsey, India (Pondicherry), Italy, Jersey, Laos, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, United States, Vietnam	65 million native, ~50 million second language, = ~115 million total; 130 million total (2005 WA)
Italian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italian	Italy, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican City. Significant communities in Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Slovenia, United States, Venezuela	61 million native (all varieties)
Urdu	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone	India, Pakistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Malawi, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia	61 million native, 43 million second language, = 104 million total
Persian	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern	Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan. Significant communities in Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan	57 million native, 53 million second language, 110 million total (2005)²
Turkish	Altaic, Turkic, Southwestern, Oghuz	Cyprus, Turkey. Significant communities in Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, France, [[Georgia (country)]\|], Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Macedonia, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, United Kingdom, United States	51 million native, 21 million second language, = 72 million total
Gujarati	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone	India (Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli). Significant communities in Fiji, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe, Zambia	46 million
Polish	Indo-European, Slavic, West	Poland. Significant communities in Belarus, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United States	43 million
Ukrainian	Indo-European, Slavic, East	Ukraine. Significant communities in Belarus, Canada, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, United States,	39 million
Malayalam	Dravidian, Southern	India (Kerala, Lakshadweep). Significant communities in Malaysia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates	36 million (1997)
Kannada	Dravidian, Southern	India (Karnataka). Significant communities in Canada, United Kingdom, United States.	35 million native, 9 million second language, = 44 million total (1997)
Oriya	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Magadhi	India (Orissa).	32 million native (1997)
Burmese	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese	Myanmar. Significant communities in Bangladesh, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States	32 million native, 10 million second language, = 42 million total
Azeri	Altaic, Turkic, Southwestern, Oghuz	Azerbaijan, Iran. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan	31 million native, 8 million second language (not counting Iran), = 39+ million total
Thai	Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai	Thailand. Significant communities in Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United States	~31 million native (1983 SIL, 1990 Diller, 2000 WCD) (dated data), = ~60 million first & second language (2001 A. Diller). Includes Southern Thai, Northern Thai/Western Lao, but not Shan, Isan, or Lao.

10–30 million native speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Sundanese	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic	Indonesia (western Java)	27 million (1990)
Pashto	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern	Afghanistan, Pakistan. Significant communities in India, Iran, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States	21–27 million (data uncertain; ethnic population ~50 million)
Hausa	Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West	Niger, Nigeria. Significant communities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo	24 million native, ~ 15 million second language, = ~ 40 million total
Romanian	Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern	Moldova, Romania. Significant communities in Greece, Hungary, Israel, Serbia and Montenegro, Russia, Ukraine	23–24 million (2002)
Indonesian	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic, Malayic	Indonesia. Significant communities in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Netherlands, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Timor-Leste	23 million native, 140+ million second language, = 165 million total; 175 million total all Malay (2005 WA)
Oromo	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic	Ethiopia. Significant communities in Kenya	17–30 million native, perhaps 2 million second language (data uncertain)
Uzbek	Altaic, Turkic, Eastern	Afghanistan, Uzbekistan. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan	20 million (1995)
Sindhi	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India, Pakistan. Significant communities in Hong Kong, Oman, Philippines, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States	20 million native, 1 million second language, = 21 million total (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Cebuano	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West, Central Philippine	Philippines	20 million (1995 census)
Yoruba	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid	Nigeria, Benin, Togo	19 million native, 2 million second language, = 21 million total (1993)
Lao	Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai	Laos, Thailand. Significant communities in the United States	~19 million Lao-Phutai dialects (including Isan) (data dated)
Malaysian	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic, Malayic	Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Netherlands, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Timor-Leste	18 million native, 3 million second language, = 21 million total
Igbo	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid	Nigeria	18 million native (1999 WA), unknown number second language.
Dutch	Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low German, Low Franconian	Aruba, Belgium, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Suriname. Significant communities in France, Germany, Indonesia	17 million native, 4 million second language in Netherlands, = 21+ million total (2000)
Amharic	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South	Ethiopia. Significant communities in Egypt, Israel, Sweden	17 million native, 4 million second language, = 21 million total (1998 census)
Malagasy	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West	Madagascar	17 million
Tagalog	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West	Philippines. Significant communities in Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States	17 million native, ~68 million second language, = 85 million total
Nepali	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Bhutan, India, Nepal. Significant communities in Myanmar.	17 million native (2001 census), perhaps 10–15 million second language?
Kurdish	Indo-European, Iranian, Western, Northwestern	Iran, Iraq, Turkey	16 million
Assamese	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	India. Significant communities in Bangladesh, Bhutan.	15 million (1997)
Khmer	Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer	Cambodia. Significant communities in Australia, France, Laos, Thailand, United States, Vietnam	14 million native, 1 million second language, = 15 million total (2004)
Zhuang	Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai	China	14 million native (1992), unknown number second language
Madura	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West	Indonesia	14 million (1995)
Hungarian	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric	Hungary. Significant communities in Israel, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Ukraine	14 million
Sinhala	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan	Sri Lanka. Significant communities in Canada, Maldives, United Arab Emirates	13 million native, 2 million second language, = 15 million total (1993)
Fulani	Niger-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian	Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo	13 million
Somali	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic	Ethiopia, Somalia. Significant communities in Djibouti, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Yemen	13 million (2000 WCD)
Czech	Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic	Czech Republic. Significant communities in Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States.	12 million (1990 WA).
Greek	Indo-European, Greek	Cyprus, Greece. Significant communities in Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, United States	12 million (1986)
Serbian	Indo-European, Slavic, South	Serbia and Montenegro. Significant communities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Turkey	11 million (1981 WA)
Shona	Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu	Zimbabwe	10.7 million native, 1.8 million second language, = 12.5 million total (2000 A. Chebanne)
Quechua	Quechuan	Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. Significant communities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile	10.4 million, all varieties

3–10 million native speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Zulu	Niger-Congo, Bantu	South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland	9.6 million native, ~16 million second language, = ~25 million total (1996 census)
Nyanja	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe	9.3 million native (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk), 0.4 million second language (1999 WA), = 9.7 million total
Belarusian	Indo-European, Slavic, East	Belarus. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan	9.1 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Bulgarian	Indo-European, Slavic, South	Bulgaria. Significant communities in Greece, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine	9.0 million (1986)
Swedish	Indo-European, Germanic	Sweden, Finland	8.8 million (1986)
Akan	Niger-Congo, Kwa	Ghana	8.3 million native, ~1 million second language, = ~10 million total (2004 SIL)
Kazakh	Altaic, Turkic	Kazakhstan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, China, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan	8.2 million
Ilocano	Austronesian	Philippines	~8 million native, unknown number second language (1991 UBS) (dated data)
Hmong	Hmong-Mien	China. Significant communities in Laos, United States, Vietnam	~8 million, all varieties (1999 Li Yunbing)
Yi	Tibeto-Burman	China	7.8 million ethnic Yi (2000 census)
Luba	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Democratic Republic of the Congo	7.8 million native, 0.7 million second language, = 8.5 million total (1991 UBS). Includes 1.5 million Kiluba.
Uyghur	Altaic, Turkic	China. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan	7.6 million
Haitian Creole	Indo-European, Romance, Creole	Haiti	7.4 million (2001)
Kinyarwanda	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Rwanda. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda	7.3 million (1998)
Xhosa	Niger-Congo, Bantu	South Africa, Lesotho	7.2 million (1996 census)
Balochi	Indo-European, Iranian	Iran, Pakistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates	7.0 million (1998)
Hiligaynon	Austronesian	Philippines	~7 million (1995), unknown number second language
Catalan	Indo-European, Romance	Andorra, France (Pyrénées-Orientales), Spain (Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia). Significant communities in Brazil, Italy.	6.7 million native, ~5 million second language, = ~12 million total (1996) (includes Valencian)
Armenian	Indo-European, isolate	Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh (de jure part of Azerbaijan). Significant communities in Azerbaijan, Brazil, France, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Russia, Syria, Turkey, United States	6.7 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, etc.)
Minangkabau	Austronesian	Indonesia	6.5 million (1981 Moussay) (dated data)
Turkmen	Altaic, Turkic	Turkmenistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Iran.	6.4 million (1995)
Makua	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Mozambique. Significant communities in Tanzania	6.4 million, all varieties, including Lomwe
Croatian	Indo-European, Slavic, South	Croatia. Significant communities in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia	6.2 million
Santali	Austro-Asiatic, Munda	India, Bangladesh, Nepal	6.2 million (1997)
Batak	Austronesian	Indonesia	~6.2 million, all varieties (c. 1991 UBS) (dated data). Includes Toba, Dairi, Simalungun, etc.
Albanian	Indo-European, isolate	Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Kosovo). Significant communities in Greece, Italy , Turkey.	6.0 million (data from Albania dated)
Afrikaans	Indo-European, Germanic	Namibia, South Africa	6.0 million native, 10.3 million second language, = 16 million total (1996 census)
Swiss German	Indo-European, Germanic	Switzerland	6.0 million (1990 census) (dated data)
Mongolian	Altaic, Mongolian	China, Mongolia	5.7 million
Bhili	Indo-European, Indic	India	5.6 million, all varieties (1994) (dated data). Includes 1.6 million Wagdi, etc.
Kituba	Niger-Congo, Bantu, creole	Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo	5.4 million native, 0.8 million second language, = 6.2 million total (1987 SIL, 1990 UBS) (dated data)
Gikuyu	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Kenya	5.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL)
Danish	Indo-European, Germanic	Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland. Significant communities in Germany (Southern Schleswig)	5.3 million (1980) (dated data)
Finnish	Uralic, Finnic	Finland. Significant communities in Russia, Sweden Norway United States	5.2 million (1993) (dated data)
Hebrew	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic	Israel, West Bank. Significant communities in Brazil	5.1 million (1998)
Slovak	Indo-European, Slavic, West	Slovakia. Significant communities in Hungary and Serbia and Montenegro	5.0 million (1990 WA)
Mòoré	Niger-Congo, Gur	Burkina Faso, Togo	~5 million (1991)
Swahili	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Kenya, Tanzania. Significant communities in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda	~5 million native, ~ 30–50 million second language
Guarani	Tupi	Paraguay. Significant communities in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil	4.9 million (1995)
Rundi	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda	4.9 million (1986) (dated data)
Sesotho (southern)	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Lesotho, South Africa.	4.9 million (1996 census)
Sicilian	Indo-European, Romance	Significant communities in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, United States, Canada, Argentina, Brasil, Venezuela, Australia	4.8 million (2000 WCD)
Norwegian	Indo-European, Germanic	Norway. Significant communities in Canada	4.6 million [Wikipedia figure; needs confirmation]
Tibetan	Tibeto-Burman	China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Taiwan	4.6 million, all varieties
Tswana	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe	4.4 million native, 0.2 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1993 Johnstone) (dated data)
Kashmiri	Indo-European, Indic	India, Pakistan. Significant communities in United Kingdom	4.6 million (1997)
Tigrigna	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic	Eritrea, Ethiopia	4.5 million native, 0.1 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1998 census)
Georgian	Kartvelian	Georgia. Significant communities in Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine	4.2 million (1993 UBS)
Umbundu	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Angola	~4 million native, unknown number second language (1995 WA)
Konkani	Indo-European, Indic	India	~4 million (1999 WA)
Balinese	Austronesian	Indonesia (Bali)	3.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Northern Sotho (sePedi)	Niger-Congo, Bantu	South Africa. Significant communities in Botswana	3.7 million (1996 census)
Luyia	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Kenya	3.6 million (1989 census) (dated data)
Wolof	Niger-Congo, Atlantic	The Gambia, Senegal	3.6 million native (2002), unknown number second language
Bemba	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo	3.6 million native, unknown number second language (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Bugis	Austronesian	Indonesia, Malaysia	3.5 million native, 0.5 million second language, = ~4 million total (1991 SIL)
Luo	Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic	Kenya, Tanzania	3.5 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data)
Bicolano	Austronesian	Philippines	3.5 million all varieties (1990 census)
Mazanderani	Indo-European, Iranian	Iran	3.3 million (1993) (dated data) (numbers may be confused with or include Gilaki)
Gilaki	Indo-European, Iranian	Iran	3.3 million (1993) (dated data) (numbers may be confused with or include Mazanderani)
Shan	Tai-Kadai	Myanmar	3.3 million
Tsonga	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Mozambique, South Africa	3.3 million (1989, 1996) (dated data)
Galician	Indo-European, Romance	Spain, PortugalSignificant communities in Brazil.	3.2 million (1986) (data dated)
Sukuma	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Tanzania	3.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Yiddish	Indo-European, Germanic	United States, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Israel Significant communities in Brazil	3.2 million
Jamaican Creole English	Indo-European, Germanic, Creole	Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica	3.2 million (2001)
Central Atlas Tamazight	Afro-Asiatic, Berber	Algeria, Morocco	~3.2 million (1998)
Kabyle	Afro-Asiatic, Berber	Algeria. Significant communities in France.	3.1 to ~6 million (1995–1998)
Kyrgyz	Altaic, Turkic	Kyrgyzstan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan	3.1 million (1993 UBS) (dated data)
Ewe	Niger-Congo	Ghana, Togo	3.1 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 3.6 million total (2003)
Lithuanian	Indo-European, Baltic	Lithuania. Significant communities in Belarus, Brazil, Latvia, Poland, Russia	3.1 million (1998)
Ganda	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Uganda	3.0 million native (1991 census), ~1 million second language (1999 WA), = ~ 4 million total
Aceh	Austronesian	Indonesia	~3 million (1999 WA)
Tachelhit	Afro-Asiatic, Berber	Morocco	~3 million (1998)
kiMbundu	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Angola	~3 million (1999 WA)
Hindko	Indo-European, Indic	Pakistan	~3 million (1993) (dated data)

1–3 million native speakers

Language	Family	Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population	Number of speakers
Rajbangsi	Indo-European, Indic	India	3.0 million (1991 census) (dated data)
Romani	Indo-European, Indic	Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia	2.9 million, all varieties (data for Vlax 2002–2004)
Garhwali	Indo-European, Indic	India	2.9 million (2000)
Bambara	Niger-Congo, Mande	Mali	2.8 million native, 10 million second language, = 13 million total
Ometo	Afro-Asiatic, Omotic	Ethiopia	2.8 million (1998 census)
Indian Sign Language	Language isolate (Sign language)	Bangladesh, India, Pakistan	2.7 million in India, plus unknown number in Bangladesh, Pakistan (2003). Same language as Pakistani Sign Language
Ndau	Niger-Congo, Bantu	Mozambique	2.7 million (2000 Chebanne)
Betawi creole	Austronesian	Indonesia	2.7 million (1993 Johnstone) (dated data)
Karen	Tibetan-Burman	Myanmar, Thailand	2.6 million, all varieties (dated data)
Gondi	Dravidian	India<