Full list of countries with world’s most English speakers – UK 4th | World | News
In a surprising twist for the birthplace of the English language, the United Kingdom has been ranked only fourth in a new global list of countries with the highest number of English speakers.
The study, compiled by language platform Babel, reveals that while English is a primary or widely used language across much of the globe, population size and historical influence have a huge impact on where the language is most spoken. Below is the full list of countries with the world’s most English speakers:
1. United States
Unsurprisingly, the United States leads the chart by a wide margin, with around 297.4 million English speakers. With English as its dominant language and a population of more than 330 million, America remains the epicentre of global English-speaking media, business, and education.
2. India
In second place is India, boasting an estimated 265 million English speakers. While not the country’s mother tongue, English is deeply embedded in India’s legal, educational, and business systems – a legacy of British colonial rule that has evolved into a crucial second language across the country.
3. Nigeria
With over 111 million English speakers, Nigeria comes in third. Despite having more than 500 native languages, English serves as the official language and is a vital unifying tool in government, education, and national media.
4. United Kingdom
Coming in fourth is the UK itself, with around 60 million English speakers. While nearly the entire population speaks English, the UK’s relatively modest population keeps it below larger English-speaking nations.
5. Philippines
At number five is the Philippines, with 50 million English speakers. American colonisation left a strong linguistic legacy, and English remains one of the country’s official languages. It is widely spoken in schools, government offices, and the outsourcing industry.
6. Germany
Germany ranks sixth with around 45.8 million English speakers. While German is the official language, English is commonly taught from a young age in schools and is frequently used in business, tourism, and higher education, especially in international settings.
7. Canada
At number seven, Canada is home to some 30 million English speakers. English is one of the country’s two official languages, alongside French. While French dominates in Quebec, English is the primary language in most other provinces and plays a key role in national identity, governance, and commerce.
8. Bangladesh
Bangladesh is in eighth place and with 29 million English speakers, uses English extensively in academia, legal affairs, and government institutions. Though Bengali is the national language, English remains vital for higher education and international business.
9. Uganda
In ninth place, Uganda also reports around 29 million English speakers. English serves as the official language, inherited from colonial rule, and is the main language of instruction in schools. It plays a central role in politics, administration, and law.
10. Australia
Rounding out the top 10 is Australia, with approximately 22.2 million English speakers. As the de facto national language, English is deeply ingrained in all aspects of life, from education and media to politics and everyday communication.
