Discovering the Full List of Spanish-Speaking Countries and the Number of People who Speak Spanish
Introduction
Spanish is a beautiful language that has been spoken for centuries. From a mere dialect in the 9th century, it has become one of the most widespread languages on Earth. As of 2022, there are approximately 548 million people who speak Spanish worldwide, making it the second-largest language in terms of native speakers. In this article, we will explore the full list of Spanish-speaking countries and the number of people who speak Spanish. We will also discuss the history behind the expansion of the Spanish language.
Did you know that Mexico is by far the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world?
How Many People Speak Spanish?
According to the latest data from Ethnologue, the total number of people who speak Spanish as a native language is 475 million. When considering both native and non-native speakers, the total number of Spanish speakers worldwide is estimated to be 548 million. However, this number does not include partial speakers, individuals who have learned some Spanish but are not fluent. The number of partial speakers is difficult to determine, but it is safe to assume that the total number of Spanish speakers worldwide is closer to 550 million.
Spanish is the third most studied language in the world, after English and French.
Spanish-speaking Countries
There are 20 countries and one dependent territory where Spanish is the official language. These countries include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. Equatorial Guinea is included in this list, although Spanish is not a native language there.
Countries by Continents
South America
Out of the thirteen countries in South America, nine are Spanish speaking. These countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The percentage of the population who speaks Spanish in each of these countries varies from 68% in Paraguay to 99% in Colombia.
Central America
Out of the seven countries in Central America, only Belize does not have Spanish as its official language. The majority of the Belizean population speaks Spanish, however. The countries with Spanish as their official language are Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The percentage of the population who speaks Spanish in each of these countries ranges from 78% in Guatemala to 100% in El Salvador.
North America
Mexico is the only country in North America where Spanish is the official language. Approximately 97% of the population speaks Spanish, making Mexico the world’s most populous Hispanophone country. The Mexican government recognizes 68 national languages, 63 of which are indigenous.
Caribbean
The three countries in the Caribbean where Spanish is the official language are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The percentage of the population who speaks Spanish in each of these countries ranges from 98% in the Dominican Republic to 100% in Cuba.
Europe
Spain is the only country in Europe where Spanish is the official language. Approximately 92% of the population speaks Spanish, although a significant number of people in Spain also speak Catalan.
Conclusion
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. There are 20 countries and one dependent territory where Spanish is the official language, and the total number of Spanish speakers worldwide is estimated to be around 550 million. While the majority of Spanish speakers are in South and Central America, the language has also spread to other continents, including Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.
