Can you believe there are over 7,000 languages spoken around the world today? That’s thousands of different ways to say “hello,” tell a story, or chat with friends. If you’ve ever found yourself juggling more than one, talking to family back home, switching to English at work, and maybe even picking up a bit of local slang, you already know how much language shapes identity.
At Remitly, we see this every day. For anyone sending money across borders, starting a career in a new country, or simply trying to feel at home, language isn’t just about words; it’s about belonging. In this guide, we’ll take a look at where languages come from and how they influence the way we see the world.
Just how many languages are out there?
The short answer: more than you might think. As of writing, the Ethnologue database lists 7,159 languages spoken currently, but this changes constantly. The surprising thing is that 90% of all languages are spoken by fewer than 100,000 people.
- Mandarin Chinese has more than a billion speakers.
- Spanish connects around 500 million people.
- English is used by around 1.5 billion people as either a first or second language.
There are thousands of smaller languages spoken by small communities, some with fewer than 100 speakers left. And some endangered languages are spoken by fewer than ten people on earth. This shows just how varied human communication really is.
Languages vs. dialects (and why it matters for you)
Ever wondered why Mandarin and Cantonese are called “dialects of Chinese” even though they’re so different that speakers can’t understand each other? Meanwhile, Spanish in Spain and Spanish in Mexico sound pretty different but are still considered one language.
This fuzzy line between “language” and “dialect” matters in real life. If you’ve checked “Chinese” or “Arabic” on an official US form, you’ll know it doesn’t tell the full story. Being clear about which variety you speak can make all the difference when accessing services, schools, or community resources. Making sure the right dialect is available can be the difference between smooth communication and a stressful experience.
Languages by continent
Languages are not spread evenly across the world. Some regions are incredibly diverse, while others are more linguistically unified.
Asia (~2,300 languages)
Asia is the heavyweight champion of language diversity. Global giants like Mandarin, Hindi, and Arabic sit alongside hundreds of local tongues.
In India, 22 official languages are recognized, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. Indonesia boasts over 700 native languages, yet everyone comes together through Bahasa Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Philippines has about 175 languages, with Filipino and English serving as the official pair.
Africa (~2,100 languages)
Africa is alive with voices; over 2,000 languages flow across the continent.
Nigeria alone has more than 500, with Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo leading the way. South Africa celebrates 12 official languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, and English. Cameroon is home to more than 270 languages alongside English and French. For many Africans, speaking multiple languages is part of everyday life.
Pacific / Oceania (~1,300 languages)
The Pacific islands may be small in population, but their languages are abundant.
Papua New Guinea takes the crown as the most linguistically diverse country, with more than 800 languages. While English, Tok Pisin, and Hiri Motu are widely used, local languages remain central to identity. Vanuatu is another fascinating case; under 400,000 people live there, yet they speak more than 100 languages.
The Americas (~1,000 languages)
Across the Americas, Indigenous languages continue to live alongside Spanish, Portuguese, and English. In Paraguay, Guaraní sits proudly next to Spanish as an official language. Bolivia goes even further, recognising 37 official languages, including Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara.
In North America, Canada is known for its English-French bilingualism, but Indigenous languages like Cree and Inuktitut remain vital to cultural identity.
Europe (~280 languages)
Europe may seem more linguistically uniform, but it’s still wonderfully complex.
Spain recognizes six co-official languages: Spanish (Castilian), Catalan, Galician, Euskera, Aranese, and Valencian. Switzerland runs smoothly on four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Belgium is officially trilingual with Dutch, French, and German, while Finland balances Finnish and Swedish, with Sámi protected in the north.
The UK’s linguistic landscape
And then there’s the UK, often thought of as the land of English, but that’s only part of the story. Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Irish all have official recognition, and Cornish is making a comeback.
Where did all these languages come from?
Languages didn’t appear overnight. They evolved, travelled, and adapted over thousands of years.
Families of languages
Think of languages as one giant family tree. The Indo-European family alone includes English, Spanish, Hindi, and Russian. They might sound worlds apart, but thousands of years ago, they shared a common ancestor.
If you’re learning English in the US and your first language is European, you might notice familiar words and patterns. For example, English “mother,” Spanish “madre,” and Hindi “maa” all connect back to the same root.
Geography and isolation
Nature shaped languages, too. Mountains, rivers, and oceans once cut people off from each other, creating space for new languages to develop. The Basque language in Spain, for example, survived largely because the Pyrenees mountains kept the community isolated.
Migration and trade
Of course, people didn’t always stay put. Trade routes and migration spread languages across continents. Arabic grew through religion and commerce, Spanish and Portuguese travelled with colonization, and English went global through empire and technology.
How language shapes the way we see the world
The way you speak influences the way you think, and sometimes even what you notice.
Words as windows
In Inuktitut, there are dozens of words for different kinds of snow. In Japanese, “komorebi” describes sunlight shining through trees. These aren’t just pretty details; they show what matters most to each culture.
Those words we can’t translate
Every language has gems that don’t quite make sense in English:
- Hygge (Danish): cozy comfort and togetherness.
- Saudade (Portuguese): a bittersweet kind of longing.
- Gezellig (Dutch): the warm buzz of being with friends.
- Fernweh (German): a deep longing to travel to faraway places.
If you’ve ever tried to explain one of these words in English, you’ll know how hard it is. I once told my friends about the Spanish word “estrenar”, using something for the very first time. They laughed and said, “So… just ‘wearing’ new shoes?” But it’s more than that. “Estrenar” captures the little thrill of showing something off, a feeling English doesn’t quite pin down.
Language and thought
Some Aboriginal Australian languages don’t even use “left” or “right”; they use compass points like north and south. That means speakers are always aware of which way they’re facing.
The few languages that connect billions
Out of thousands of languages, a small handful dominate global communication.
The top five
The biggest bridge languages today are:
- Mandarin Chinese: over a billion native speakers.
- Spanish: around 500 million people.
- English: spoken by nearly 1.5 billion people as a first or second language.
- Hindi: around 600 million speakers.
- Arabic: shared by over 300 million people across many countries.
Where they matter most
Each language dominates in its own space. English is the go-to for business and higher education. Spanish connects the Americas and is growing fast in the US. Arabic is central to the Middle East and North Africa. Mandarin is increasingly important in global trade.
For immigrants in the US, speaking one of these languages can be a huge advantage, especially in cities like Miami, New York, or San Francisco, where multicultural communities make it easy to use more than one language every day.
Why are so many languages disappearing?
While some languages dominate, others are quietly vanishing. By the year 2100, half of all the world’s languages could disappear.
Why is this happening?
- Urban life: Young people move to cities where global languages dominate.
- Globalization: English, Spanish, and others take over in the media and schools.
- Old policies: In some places, heritage languages were actively discouraged.
What we lose
When a language disappears, we lose more than words. Oral histories, songs, ways of farming or healing, and unique cultural perspectives can vanish too. It’s like losing an entire library with no backup copy.
Comeback stories
But not all is lost. Welsh has made a comeback in the UK with schools and media support. Māori is being taught widely in New Zealand. Hebrew was once reserved for prayer, but is now a thriving national language.
For immigrants raising children in the US, stories like these are inspiring. Passing on a heritage language doesn’t just connect kids to their roots; it gives them an extra skill that will benefit them for life.
Tech: friend or foe for languages?
The internet has changed how languages survive, and it’s a double-edged sword. Languages without an online presence are more likely to fade away.
Tech that helps
If you can’t text, search, or post in it, chances are fewer young people will keep using it. However, technology is preserving and spreading languages in new ways:
- Translation apps make everyday communication easier.
- Language-learning platforms now offer endangered as well as popular languages.
- Digital archives are recording voices for future generations.
New blends
Social media is also creating new mixes like Spanglish. For immigrants in the US, it’s common to post in English with a sprinkle of home language words, creating a unique hybrid identity online. These blends show that language isn’t static; it adapts, just like the people who speak it.
Why this matters for your life in the US
For immigrants, language diversity goes beyond theory; it’s part of everyday life.
Everyday life
Learning just a few local phrases can transform your experience, whether you’re ordering food, asking for directions, or breaking the ice with a neighbor. In the US, accents and slang vary by region too; you might hear “y’all” in the South and “youse” in the Northeast.
Utilising services
Language barriers can make healthcare, banking, or filling in forms more complicated. The good news is that many US services offer interpreters and translation if you ask. Organizations also exist to provide multilingual support on housing, jobs, and money matters.
Career and personal growth
Being multilingual is a real advantage in the US job market. Employers value people who can bridge cultural gaps. And personally, keeping your family’s language alive while learning English builds a strong sense of identity.
If you’re looking to improve your English in the US, you might:
- Take free or low-cost ESOL courses at city councils, colleges, or libraries.
- Join conversation clubs or language exchanges in big cities.
- Use apps daily and practise with locals whenever you can.
- Read newspapers, stream shows, or follow sports commentary in English.
Keeping languages alive for the future
So, what can we do to make sure the world’s languages survive?
Why it matters
Languages aren’t just words. They’re culture, history, and creativity wrapped into one. Losing them makes the world a little less colorful.
You can help by:
- Speaking your heritage language at home.
- Supporting schools and groups that promote bilingual education.
- Staying curious about the languages spoken in your community.
- Sharing music, films, or books from your language with friends.
A hopeful future
Around the world, people are fighting to protect their languages. From grassroots community schools to AI-powered archives, there’s a growing movement to keep them alive.
The bigger picture
The world’s 7,000+ languages are proof of human creativity. They link us to the past, shape our present, and open doors to the future. For immigrants and expats in the US, every conversation in English and your family’s language keeps that diversity alive. At Remitly, we see language as identity, connection, and home, wherever you are.
FAQs
How many languages are there in the world?
About 7000, according to Ethnologue.
What is the most spoken language globally?
Mandarin Chinese has the most native speakers, but English is the most widely spoken overall.
Why are so many languages disappearing?
Urbanization, globalization, and dominant languages in schools and media are the main reasons.
How do languages influence the way people think?
They shape how people see time, color, and even direction.
Which languages are growing the fastest?
Spanish, Hindi, and Arabic are expanding rapidly due to demographics and migration.
What can I do to support language diversity?
Learn about endangered languages, support bilingual education, and use your heritage language at home.