List of languages by number of native speakers?
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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. For languages spoken by very few people, and so in danger of extinction, see list of endangered languages.

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100 million native speakers or more

Language Family Official status and where spoken natively, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population Number of speakers
Chinese Sino-Tibetan Official in People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Singapore. Significant communities in Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nauru, Philippines, Réunion, Surinam, Thailand, United States (California, Guam, Hawaii, New York?, Northern Mariana Islands), Venezuela, 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 Official in India, Fiji. Significant communities in Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Mauritius, Nepal, South Africa, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Yemen 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 Official in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, United States (New Mexico, Puerto Rico), Uruguay, Venezuela. Significant communities in Andorra, Aruba, Belize, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Israel, Netherlands Antilles, Switzerland, 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 Official in 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, Eritrea, Ethiopia, 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, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States (national language; official in some states), Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Significant communities in Andorra, Aruba, Israel, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Switzerland. 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 Modern Standard Arabic is official in Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt (along with Egyptian Arabic as the national language), Eritrea, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, Yemen. Hassaniya Arabic is official in Mauritania, Senegal; and a national language of Mali. Significant communities in Australia, Belgium, Central African Republic, France, Gibraltar, Iran, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Spain (Ceuta & Melilla). 206 million native, 24 million second language, = 230 million total, for all varieties of Arabic (WA 1999); 255 million total (2005 WA). Egyptian Arabic: 46 million native. Hassaniya: 2.8 million native. Modern Standard Arabic is a second language only.
Portuguese Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Iberian Official in Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé e Príncipe. Significant communities in Andorra, Antigua, France, India (Daman and Goa), Luxembourg, Namibia, Paraguay, South Africa, Switzerland 203 million native (196 million, 2005 WA, plus 60% Angola), 10 million second language, = 213 million total (not counting 4 million Galician)
Bengali Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Magadhan, Assamese-Bengali Official in Bangladesh, India (Tripura, West Bengal). Significant communities in Burma, Oman, 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 Official in Abkhazia (de jure part of Georgia), Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Transnistria (de jure part of Moldova). Significant communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 145 million native (1999 WA), 110 million second language, = 255 million total (2000, WCD)
Japanese Japonic Official in Japan. Significant communities in United States (Hawaii, Guam) 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) Official in India (Panjab). National language in Pakistan. Significant communities in Canada, Fiji, Mauritius, United Kingdom 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, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population Number of speakers
German Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German Official in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland. Significant communities in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Poland. 95 million native, 28 million second language, = 123 million total (not including Swiss German)
Javanese Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Sundic Indonesia (especially Java). Significant communities in Malaysia, New Caledonia, Suriname 76 million
Korean Language isolate Official in North Korea, South Korea. Native to China. Significant communities in Japan, Mauritania, United States (Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands) 71 million
Vietnamese Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong Official in Vietnam. Significant communities in Australia, Cambodia, Laos, New Caledonia, Norway, United States (California), Vanuatu. 70 million native, perhaps up to 16 million second language, = ~ 86 million total
Telugu Dravidian, South Central Official in India (Andhra Pradesh). Significant communities in Bahrain, Fiji, Mauritius 70 million native, 5 million second language, = 75 million total (1997)
Marathi Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone Official in India (Daman and Diu, Goa, Maharashtra). Significant communities in Mauritius. 68 million native, 3 million second language, = 71 million total
Tamil Dravidian, Southern Official in India (Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry), Singapore, Sri Lanka. Significant communities in Bahrain, Fiji, Malaysia, Mauritius, Réunion. 68 million native, 9 million second language, = 77 million total
French Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Oïl Official in Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Kinshasa, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Guadaloupe, Guinea, Haiti, India (Pondicherry), Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Monaco, New Caledonia, Niger, Réunion, Rwanda, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, United Kingdom (Guernsey, Jersey), United States (Louisiana), Vanuatu. 67 million native (2005 estimate); 130 million total (2005 WA)
Persian Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern Official in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan. Significant communities in Bahrain, France, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, USA, Uzbekistan 61-71 million native (including 50-60% of Iran, 40% of Afghanistan, 15-30% of Uzbekistan), may include Mazanderani and Gilaki; ~50 million second language, 110 million total (2005)2
Urdu Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone Official in India (Jammu and Kashmir), Pakistan. Significant communities in Bahrain, Botswana, Fiji, Malawi?, Mauritius, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa? 61 million native, 43 million second language, = 104 million total
Italian Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italian Official in Croatia, Italy, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican City. Significant communities in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Uruguay 61 million native (all varieties)
Turkish (Osmanli) Altaic, Turkic, Southwestern, Oghuz Official in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey. Significant communities in Austria, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands. 60 million native, 15 million second language, = 75 million total (2005 estimate). Total for Oghuz Turkish, including Azeri, Turkmen, and Qashqai, is 100 million native.
Gujarati Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central Zone Official in India (Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli). Significant communities in Fiji. 46 million
Polish Indo-European, Slavic, West Official in Poland. Significant communities in Belarus, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine. 46 million
Ukrainian Indo-European, Slavic, East Official in Ukraine, Transnistria (de jure part of Moldova). Significant communities in Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Slovakia 39 million
Malayalam Dravidian, Southern Official in India (Kerala, Lakshadweep). Significant communities in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates 36 million (1997)
Kannada Dravidian, Southern Official in India (Karnataka). 35 million native, 9 million second language, = 44 million total (1997)
Azeri Altaic, Turkic, Southwestern, Oghuz Official in Azerbaijan. Native to Iran. Significant communities in Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Iraq. 33 million native, 8 million second language (not counting Iran), = 41+ million total, including Qashqai
Oriya Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Magadhi Official in India (Orissa). 32 million native (1997)
Burmese Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese Official in Myanmar. 32 million native, 10 million second language, = 42 million total
Thai Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai Official in Thailand. ~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, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population Number of speakers
Sundanese Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic Indonesia (western Java) 27 million (1990)
Kurdish Indo-European, Iranic, Western, Northwestern Official in Iraq. Native in Armenia, Iran, Syria, Turkey. Significant communities in Germany, Lebanon. 26 million (assuming 20% of Turkey)
Pashto Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern Official in Afghanistan. Native to Pakistan. Significant communities in Iran, United Arab Emirates. 21–27 million (data uncertain; ethnic population ~30 million)
Hausa Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West Official language of Niger, north Nigeria. Significant communities in Chad, Sudan 24 million native, ~ 15 million second language, = ~ 40 million total
Romanian Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern Official in Moldova, Romania. Significant communities in Greece, Hungary, Israel, Serbia and Montenegro. 23–24 million (2002)
Indonesian Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic, Malayic Official in Indonesia. Significant communities in Netherlands, Timor-Leste 23 million native, 140+ million second language, = 165 million total; 175 million total all Malay (2005 WA)
Oromo Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic National language of Ethiopia. Significant communities in Kenya 18 million native (ethnic group 30 million), perhaps 2 million second language, = 20 million total (1998 census)
Uzbek Altaic, Turkic, Eastern Official in Uzbekistan. Native to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan 20 million (1995)
Sindhi Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India, Pakistan. Significant communities in Hong Kong?, Oman?. 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 Official in Nigeria. Significant communities in Benin 19 million native, 2 million second language, = 21 million total (1993)
Lao Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai Official in Laos. Native to Thailand. ~19 million Lao-Phutai dialects (including Isan) (data dated)
Malaysian Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic, Malayic Official in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore. Native to Indonesia, Thailand. Significant communities in Bahrain. 18 million native, 3 million second language, = 21 million total
Igbo Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid Official in Nigeria 18 million native (1999 WA), unknown number second language.
Dutch Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low German, Low Franconian Official in Aruba, Belgium, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Suriname. 17 million native, 4 million second language in Netherlands, = 21+ million total (2000)
Amharic Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South Official in Ethiopia. Significant communities in Israel. 17 million native, 4 million second language, = 21 million total (1998 census)
Malagasy Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West Official in Madagascar. Significant communities in Mayotte, Réunion. 17 million
Tagalog Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West Official in Philippines. Significant communities in Canada, Hong Kong?, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States (Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands). 17 million native, ~68 million second language, = 85 million total
Nepali Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India (Sikkim), Nepal. Significant communities in Bhutan. 17 million native (2001 census), perhaps 10–15 million second language?
Assamese Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India (Assam). Significant communities in Bhutan. 15 million (1997)
Hungarian Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric Official in Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia. Significant communities in Israel, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine 15 million
Shona Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language ofZimbabwe. Significant communities in Botswana, Mozambique. 15 million native, 1.8 million second language, = 16-17 million total, including Ndau, Manyika (2000 A. Chebanne)
Khmer Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer Official in Cambodia. Significant communities in Thailand, Vietnam 14 million native, 1 million second language, = 15 million total (2004)
Zhuang Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai Official in China 14 million native (1992), unknown number second language
Madura Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West Indonesia 14 million (1995)
Sinhala Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in Sri Lanka. Significant communities in United Arab Emirates 13 million native, 2 million second language, = 15 million total (1993)
Fulani Niger-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian Official in Niger, Nigeria, Senegal. National language of Guinea, Mali. Significant communities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sierra Leone. ~13 million (all varieties)
Somali Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic Official in Somalia. Native to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya. Significant communities in United Arab Emirates, Yemen 13 million (2000 WCD)
Tamazight Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern National language inAlgeria (Kabyle), Morocco. Significant communities in France, Netherlands, Spain (Ceuta & Melilla). 13+ million (1998)
Czech Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic Official in Czech Republic. 12 million (1990 WA).
Greek Indo-European, Greek Official in Cyprus, Greece. Significant communities in Albania, Australia, Egypt, Georgia. 12 million (1986)
Serbian Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Significant communities in Sweden, Switzerland. 11 million (1981 WA)
Quechua Quechuan Official in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. Significant communities in Argentina 10.4 million, all varieties

3–10 million native speakers

Language Family Official status and where spoken natively, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population Number of speakers
Zulu Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho, Swaziland 9.6 million native, ~16 million second language, = ~25 million total (1996 census)
Chichewa (Nyanja) Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in Malawi, Zambia. Significant communities in Mozambique, 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 Official in Belarus. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania 9.1 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Bulgarian Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Bulgaria. Significant communities in Moldova. 9.0 million (1986)
Swedish Indo-European, Germanic National language of Sweden. Official in Finland 8.8 million (1986)
Kongo Niger-Congo, Bantu National language in Angola, Congo-Brazzaville (Kituba), Congo-Kinshasa. 8.7 million, all varieties, including Yombe and creolized Kituba (1986-2002) (dated data)
Akan Niger-Congo, Kwa National language in Ghana 8.3 million native, ~1 million second language, = ~10 million total (2004 SIL)
Kazakh Altaic, Turkic Official in Kazakhstan. Significant communities in China (Xinjiang), Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 8.2 million
Ilocano Austronesian Philippines. Significant communities in United States (Hawaii). ~8 million native, unknown number second language (1991 UBS) (dated data)
Hmong Hmong-Mien China. Significant communities in French Guiana, Laos, Vietnam ~8 million, all varieties (1999 Li Yunbing)
Yi Tibeto-Burman China 7.8 million ethnic Yi (2000 census)
Tshiluba Niger-Congo, Bantu National language of Congo-Kinshasa 7.8 million native, 0.7 million second language, = 8.5 million total (1991 UBS). Includes 1.5 million Kiluba.
Uyghur Altaic, Turkic Official in China. Significant communities in Kazakhstan 7.6 million
Haitian Creole Indo-European, Romance, Creole Official in Haiti. Significant communities in Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe. 7.4 million (2001)
Kinyarwanda Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in Rwanda. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda 7.3 million (1998)
Xhosa Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho 7.2 million (1996 census)
Balochi Indo-European, Iranian Native to Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. Significant communities in Oman, United Arab Emirates 7.0 million (1998)
Hiligaynon Austronesian Philippines ~7 million (1995), unknown number second language
Catalan Indo-European, Romance Official in Andorra, Spain (Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia). Native to France (Pyrénées-Orientales). 6.7 million native, ~5 million second language, = ~12 million total (1996) (includes Valencian)
Armenian Indo-European, isolate Official in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh (de jure part of Azerbaijan). Significant communities in Georgia, Lebanon, Syria. 6.7 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, etc.)
Minangkabau Austronesian Indonesia 6.5 million (1981 Moussay) (dated data)
Turkmen Altaic, Turkic Official in Turkmenistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq. 6.4 million (1995)
Makua Niger-Congo, Bantu Major language of Mozambique. Significant communities in Tanzania 6.4 million, all varieties, including Lomwe
Croatian Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia. Significant communities in Austria, Slovenia 6.2 million
Santali Austro-Asiatic, Munda Official in India 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 Official in Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Kosovo). Significant communities in Greece. 6.0 million (data from Albania dated)
Afrikaans Indo-European, Germanic Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Namibia. 6.0 million native, 10.3 million second language, = 16 million total (1996 census)
Swiss German Indo-European, Germanic Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany (Schwaben), France (Alsace). 6.0 million in Switzerland (1990 census) (dated data)
Mongolian Altaic, Mongolian Official in China, Mongolia 5.7 million
Bhili Indo-European, Indic India 5.6 million, all varieties (1994) (dated data). Includes 1.6 million Wagdi, etc.
Finnish Uralic, Finnic Official in Finland, Russia (Republic of Karelia). Significant communities in Sweden. 5.4 million (1993) (dated data)
Gikuyu Niger-Congo, Bantu Major language of Kenya 5.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL)
Danish Indo-European, Germanic Official in Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland. Significant communities in Germany (Southern Schleswig) 5.3 million (1980) (dated data)
Hebrew Afro-Asiatic, Semitic Official in Israel. Significant communities in West Bank. 5.1 million (1998)
Slovak Indo-European, Slavic, West Official in Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia. 5.0 million (1990 WA)
Mòoré Niger-Congo, Gur National language of Burkina Faso ~5 million (1991)
Swahili Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Tanzania. Significant communities in Comoros, Mayotte, Oman, Réunion. ~5 million native, ~ 30–50 million second language
Guarani Tupi Official in Paraguay. 4.9 million (1995)
Kirundi Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in Burundi. 4.9 million (1986) (dated data)
Sesotho (southern) Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in Lesotho, South Africa. 4.9 million (1996 census)
Sicilian Indo-European, Romance Native to Italy. 4.8 million (2000 WCD)
Romani Indo-European, Indic Official in Netherlands. Significant communities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iran, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Turkey 4.8 million, all varieties, including Domari (data for Vlax 2002–2004; for Domari 2000 WCD).
Norwegian Indo-European, Germanic Official in Norway. 4.6 million Wikipedia figure; needs confirmation
Tibetan Tibeto-Burman Official in China 4.6 million, all varieties
Kanuri Nilo-Saharan, Saharan Official in Niger, Nigeria. Significant communities in Chad (Kanembu) 4.4 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 4.9 million total (data mostly from 1985) (dated data)
Tswana Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in Botswana, South Africa. National language of Namibia 4.4 million native, 0.2 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1993 Johnstone) (dated data)
Kashmiri Indo-European, Indic Official in India (Jammu and Kashmir), Native to Pakistan. 4.6 million (1997)
Tigrinya Afro-Asiatic, Semitic Official in Eritrea, Ethiopia 4.5 million native, 0.1 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1998 census)
Georgian Kartvelian Official in Georgia. Significant communities in Israel. 4.2 million (1993 UBS)
Umbundu Niger-Congo, Bantu National language of Angola ~4 million native, unknown number second language (1995 WA)
Konkani Indo-European, Indic Official in India (Goa) ~4 million (1999 WA)
Balinese Austronesian Indonesia (Bali) 3.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Northern Sotho (sePedi) Niger-Congo, Bantu Official in 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 Official in Senegal. Significant communities in The Gambia. 3.6 million native (2002), unknown number second language
Bemba Niger-Congo, Bantu National language of Zambia 3.6 million native, unknown number second language (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Buginese Austronesian Indonesia 3.5 million native, 0.5 million second language, = ~4 million total (1991 SIL)
Luo Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic Kenya 3.5 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data)
Bikol Austronesian Philippines 3.5 million all varieties (1990 census)
Maninka Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Guinea, Mali. Significant numbers in Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone. 3.3 million, all varieties
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 Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Mozambique, Swaziland. 3.3 million (1989, 1996) (dated data)
Galician Indo-European, Romance Official in Spain 3.2 million (1986) (data dated)
Sukuma Niger-Congo, Bantu Tanzania 3.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
Yiddish Indo-European, Germanic Significant communities in Belarus, Israel, Latvia, Ukraine. 3.2 million
Jamaican Creole Indo-European, Germanic, Creole Jamaica. Significant communities in Panama, Costa Rica 3.2 million (2001)
Kyrgyz Altaic, Turkic Official in Kyrgyzstan. Native to Tajikistan 3.1 million (1993 UBS) (dated data)
Ewe Niger-Congo, Kwa Official in Togo. National language of Ghana. 3.1 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 3.6 million total (2003)
Lithuanian Indo-European, Baltic Official in Lithuania. Significant communities in Latvia. 3.1 million (1998)
Luganda Niger-Congo, Bantu Major language of Uganda 3.0 million native (1991 census), ~1 million second language (1999 WA), = ~ 4 million total
Achinese Austronesian Indonesia ~3 million (1999 WA)
Kimbundu Niger-Congo, Bantu National language of Angola ~3 million (1999 WA)
Hindko Indo-European, Indic Pakistan ~3 million (1993) (dated data)
Ibibiofik Niger-Congo, Cross River Efik official in Nigeria ~3 million, including Anaang (1990; 1998 B. Connell) (dated data)

1–3 million native speakers

Language Family Official status and where spoken natively, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population Number of speakers
Rajbangsi Indo-European, Indic India 3.0 million (1991 census) (dated data)
Garhwali Indo-European, Indic India 2.9 million (2000)
Bambara Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Mali 2.8 million native, 10 million second language, = 13 million total
Ometo Afro-Asiatic, Omotic Ethiopia 2.8 million, all varieties, including Wolaytta (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
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 2.6 million (1997)
Senoufo Niger-Congo, Gur National language of Mali. Native to Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire. 2.6 million, all varieties (1991, 1993, 2001) (dated data)
Kalenjin Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic Kenya 2.5 million (1989 census) (dated data)
Kumauni Indo-European, Indic India 2.4 million in India (1998)
Kamba Niger-Congo, Bantu Kenya 2.4 million native, 0.6 million second language, = 3.0 million total (1989 census) (dated data)
Waray-Waray Austronesian Philippines 2.4 native (1990 census), unknown number second language
Luri Indo-European, Iranian Iran 2.4 million (1999, 2001)
Quiché Mayan Guatemala 2.3 million (2000 SIL)
Bosniak Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.8–2.7 million (2004) needs verification
Aymara Aymaran Official in Bolivia, Peru. Significant numbers in Argentina. 2.2 million Central Aymara (1987), plus unknown number Southern Aymara in Peru (dated data; needs confirmation)
Tiv Niger-Congo, Bantoid Nigeria 2.2 million native, unknown number second language (1991 UBS) (dated data)
Brahui Dravidian Pakistan, Afghanistan 2.2 million
Gbaya Niger-Congo, Ubangian Central African Republic, Congo-Kinshasa 2.2 million, all varieties, including Ngbaka (2000 WCD)
Zarma Nilo-Saharan, Songhai Official in Niger 2.2 million (1998)
Baoulé Niger-Congo, Kwa