Have you ever felt like you're the only one around diving into Spanish vocabulary, rolling your R's, and practicing conversations with yourself? You're not alone in feeling that way, and guess what? In some places, you might actually be one of the few people on this exciting language journey!
But don’t worry, there’s good news too! Around the world, millions of people are discovering the joy of learning Spanish. Some countries are especially passionate about it, and today, we’re going to explore where Spanish is really taking off and why so many are motivated to learn it.
So whether you're feeling like a language-learning pioneer or just curious to know how many others are joining you, you're in the right place. Let's take a look at which countries are learning Spanish and the reasons that are inspiring them to do it!
Spanish by the Numbers: A Language That’s Going Global
Did you know Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world, right after Mandarin Chinese? That’s right, nearly 500 million people speak Spanish as their mother tongue.
If you’re learning Spa, you’re in good company. More than 24 million people are actively studying it right now. Even more impressive: 78% of these learners are in the United States, the European Union, and Brazil. In fact, the U.S. alone is home to over 63 million Hispanic people, and the number of Hispanic voters has doubled since 2000, now making up 14.7% of all voters.
And a fun fact that might surprise you: nearly 100 million people speak Spanish outside of traditionally Spanish-speaking countries! That means Spanish isn’t just a language of Spain or Latin America it’s truly global and you are part of that number now!
To summarize, over 600 million people (600,607,806 to be exact!) are considered potential users of Spanish, including native speakers, learners, and those with limited proficiency.
Official Ranking: Where Is Spanish Learned the Most?
According to the Cervantes Institute:
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United States:
8,591,150 students!
No contest here, the U.S. takes the gold by a mile! Spanish is everywhere: in schools, on Netflix, Music. A lot of Latin diversity!
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Brazil:
4,048,338 learners
Portuguese and Spanish may be neighbors, but Brazilians are eager to cross the language border and dive into español. Samba with a side of Spanish? Yes, please!
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France:
3,592,848 students
The French have great taste, in cheese, fashion, and evidently, in languages too.
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United Kingdom:
2,042,216 learners
Despite the grey skies, the UK is warming up to Spanish vibes. Maybe it's all that sunshine and reggaeton energy?
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Italy:
974,541 students
From Rome to Milan, Italians are embracing Spanish, and with the languages being so similar, it’s like learning from a cousin!
Total learners worldwide in 2024? Over 24 million!
That’s a massive classroom full of future Spanish speakers, and the number is growing at about 2% every year.
What about the real MVP of language apps: Duolingo
I bet you know that green owl who won’t let you forget your lessons. Well, guess what? Spanish is absolutely dominating on Duolingo!
Since 2020, Spanish has officially overtaken French as the second most popular language to learn worldwide (English is still #1, but watch out, español is climbing fast!).
Here’s where it gets even cooler:
Spanish is the #1 most popular language on Duolingo in countries like:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Finland
- Switzerland
- Norway
In countries like Canada, Brazil, France, and Poland, Spanish is the second most studied language. So next time you open your Duolingo app and see that little owl cheering you on, just remember, that you’re part of one of the biggest language-learning movements on the planet.
But what is the real reason behind these numbers? Why are people choosing Spanish over other languages?
Well, It turns out, the reasons go way beyond grammar drills, and they're as diverse as the learners themselves!
According to Duolingo, the top three reasons people study Spanish are:
To connect with others
Whether it’s chatting with family, making new friends, or building relationships, Spanish is a social superpower.
For fun!
Yes!, learning Spanish isn’t just useful, it’s genuinely enjoyable. Maybe it’s the rhythm of the language or the music; Have you listened to any salsa song? You might not know how to dance, but your hips will start doing it on their own.
To support their studies
From high school students to university majors, Spanish is a major boost in the academic world.
And what’s at the bottom of the list? Surprisingly, it's career advancement. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important, just that it’s not the main reason people dive into Spanish.
Now let’s look at Babbel, another top language app, which paints a slightly different picture:
People want to boost their job prospects, especially in bilingual roles or fields where Spanish is key.
Many are prepping for travel, hoping to confidently order tapas in Madrid or chat with locals in Bogotá.
And one of the most touching reasons? To deepen relationships with Spanish-speaking families and loved ones. In the end, love is our most powerful motivation.
And if you're in Europe, the motivations are often pop-culture-powered:
- Rosalía and La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) are inspiring a whole generation to pick up Spanish just to understand the lyrics or binge without subtitles.
- Spanish vacations are another big driver, because who doesn’t want to speak the language when you need to order
- Plus, programs like Erasmus (Europe's biggest Master's scholarship program) make Spanish one of the hottest languages to learn on campus.
So whether you're in it for the love, the lyrics, the learning, or just the laughs, Spanish has something for everyone.
Some of these stats definitely caught us off guard, like the fact that Spanish is more popular than French on Duolingo, or that the U.S. alone has over 8 million learners! It’s also fascinating that for many people, the biggest motivation isn’t work or school... it’s simply connecting, having fun, and being part of something bigger.
But what about closer to home? If you're in Western Australia do these trends reflect what you see around you? Are more people enrolling in Spanish classes? Are schools, universities, or language centers expanding their programs?
We’d love to hear from you: What motivated you to learn Spanish? Where are you from? Drop a message! We’d love to hear.
