List of languages by number of native speakers
 | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. |
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.
100 million native speakers or more
30–100 million native speakers
10–30 million native speakers
| Language | Family | Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population | Number of speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundanese | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic | Indonesia (western Java) | 27 million (1990) |
| Pashto | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern | Afghanistan, Pakistan. Significant communities in India, Iran, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States | 21–27 million (data uncertain; ethnic population ~50 million) |
| Hausa | Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West | Niger, Nigeria. Significant communities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo | 24 million native, ~ 15 million second language, = ~ 40 million total |
| Romanian | Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern | Moldova, Romania. Significant communities in Greece, Hungary, Israel, Serbia and Montenegro, Russia, Ukraine | 23–24 million (2002) |
| Indonesian | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic, Malayic | Indonesia. Significant communities in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Netherlands, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Timor-Leste | 23 million native, 140+ million second language, = 165 million total; 175 million total all Malay (2005 WA) |
| Oromo | Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic | Ethiopia. Significant communities in Kenya | 17–30 million native, perhaps 2 million second language (data uncertain) |
| Uzbek | Altaic, Turkic, Eastern | Afghanistan, Uzbekistan. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan | 20 million (1995) |
| Sindhi | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan | India, Pakistan. Significant communities in Hong Kong, Oman, Philippines, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States | 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 | Nigeria, Benin, Togo | 19 million native, 2 million second language, = 21 million total (1993) |
| Lao | Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai | Laos, Thailand. Significant communities in the United States | ~19 million Lao-Phutai dialects (including Isan) (data dated) |
| Malaysian | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western, Sundic, Malayic | Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Netherlands, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Timor-Leste | 18 million native, 3 million second language, = 21 million total |
| Igbo | Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid | Nigeria | 18 million native (1999 WA), unknown number second language. |
| Dutch | Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low German, Low Franconian | Aruba, Belgium, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Suriname. Significant communities in France, Germany, Indonesia | 17 million native, 4 million second language in Netherlands, = 21+ million total (2000) |
| Amharic | Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South | Ethiopia. Significant communities in Egypt, Israel, Sweden | 17 million native, 4 million second language, = 21 million total (1998 census) |
| Malagasy | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West | Madagascar | 17 million |
| Tagalog | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West | Philippines. Significant communities in Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States | 17 million native, ~68 million second language, = 85 million total |
| Nepali | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan | Bhutan, India, Nepal. Significant communities in Myanmar. | 17 million native (2001 census), perhaps 10–15 million second language? |
| Kurdish | Indo-European, Iranian, Western, Northwestern | Iran, Iraq, Turkey | 16 million |
| Assamese | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan | India. Significant communities in Bangladesh, Bhutan. | 15 million (1997) |
| Khmer | Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer | Cambodia. Significant communities in Australia, France, Laos, Thailand, United States, Vietnam | 14 million native, 1 million second language, = 15 million total (2004) |
| Zhuang | Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai | China | 14 million native (1992), unknown number second language |
| Madura | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, West | Indonesia | 14 million (1995) |
| Hungarian | Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric | Hungary. Significant communities in Israel, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Ukraine | 14 million |
| Sinhala | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan | Sri Lanka. Significant communities in Canada, Maldives, United Arab Emirates | 13 million native, 2 million second language, = 15 million total (1993) |
| Fulani | Niger-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian | Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo | 13 million |
| Somali | Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic | Ethiopia, Somalia. Significant communities in Djibouti, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Yemen | 13 million (2000 WCD) |
| Czech | Indo-European, Slavic, West Slavic | Czech Republic. Significant communities in Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States. | 12 million (1990 WA). |
| Greek | Indo-European, Greek | Cyprus, Greece. Significant communities in Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, United States | 12 million (1986) |
| Serbian | Indo-European, Slavic, South | Serbia and Montenegro. Significant communities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Turkey | 11 million (1981 WA) |
| Shona | Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu | Zimbabwe | 10.7 million native, 1.8 million second language, = 12.5 million total (2000 A. Chebanne) |
| Quechua | Quechuan | Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. Significant communities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile | 10.4 million, all varieties |
3–10 million native speakers
| Language | Family | Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population | Number of speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zulu | Niger-Congo, Bantu | South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland | 9.6 million native, ~16 million second language, = ~25 million total (1996 census) |
| Nyanja | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, 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 | Belarus. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan | 9.1 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Bulgarian | Indo-European, Slavic, South | Bulgaria. Significant communities in Greece, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine | 9.0 million (1986) |
| Swedish | Indo-European, Germanic | Sweden, Finland | 8.8 million (1986) |
| Akan | Niger-Congo, Kwa | Ghana | 8.3 million native, ~1 million second language, = ~10 million total (2004 SIL) |
| Kazakh | Altaic, Turkic | Kazakhstan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, China, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan | 8.2 million |
| Ilocano | Austronesian | Philippines | ~8 million native, unknown number second language (1991 UBS) (dated data) |
| Hmong | Hmong-Mien | China. Significant communities in Laos, United States, Vietnam | ~8 million, all varieties (1999 Li Yunbing) |
| Yi | Tibeto-Burman | China | 7.8 million ethnic Yi (2000 census) |
| Luba | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 7.8 million native, 0.7 million second language, = 8.5 million total (1991 UBS). Includes 1.5 million Kiluba. |
| Uyghur | Altaic, Turkic | China. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan | 7.6 million |
| Haitian Creole | Indo-European, Romance, Creole | Haiti | 7.4 million (2001) |
| Kinyarwanda | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Rwanda. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda | 7.3 million (1998) |
| Xhosa | Niger-Congo, Bantu | South Africa, Lesotho | 7.2 million (1996 census) |
| Balochi | Indo-European, Iranian | Iran, Pakistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates | 7.0 million (1998) |
| Hiligaynon | Austronesian | Philippines | ~7 million (1995), unknown number second language |
| Catalan | Indo-European, Romance | Andorra, France (Pyrénées-Orientales), Spain (Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia). Significant communities in Brazil, Italy. | 6.7 million native, ~5 million second language, = ~12 million total (1996) (includes Valencian) |
| Armenian | Indo-European, isolate | Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh (de jure part of Azerbaijan). Significant communities in Azerbaijan, Brazil, France, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Russia, Syria, Turkey, United States | 6.7 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, etc.) |
| Minangkabau | Austronesian | Indonesia | 6.5 million (1981 Moussay) (dated data) |
| Turkmen | Altaic, Turkic | Turkmenistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Iran. | 6.4 million (1995) |
| Makua | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Mozambique. Significant communities in Tanzania | 6.4 million, all varieties, including Lomwe |
| Croatian | Indo-European, Slavic, South | Croatia. Significant communities in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia | 6.2 million |
| Santali | Austro-Asiatic, Munda | India, Bangladesh, Nepal | 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 | Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Kosovo). Significant communities in Greece, Italy , Turkey. | 6.0 million (data from Albania dated) |
| Afrikaans | Indo-European, Germanic | Namibia, South Africa | 6.0 million native, 10.3 million second language, = 16 million total (1996 census) |
| Swiss German | Indo-European, Germanic | Switzerland | 6.0 million (1990 census) (dated data) |
| Mongolian | Altaic, Mongolian | China, Mongolia | 5.7 million |
| Bhili | Indo-European, Indic | India | 5.6 million, all varieties (1994) (dated data). Includes 1.6 million Wagdi, etc. |
| Kituba | Niger-Congo, Bantu, creole | Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 5.4 million native, 0.8 million second language, = 6.2 million total (1987 SIL, 1990 UBS) (dated data) |
| Gikuyu | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Kenya | 5.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) |
| Danish | Indo-European, Germanic | Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland. Significant communities in Germany (Southern Schleswig) | 5.3 million (1980) (dated data) |
| Finnish | Uralic, Finnic | Finland. Significant communities in Russia, Sweden Norway United States | 5.2 million (1993) (dated data) |
| Hebrew | Afro-Asiatic, Semitic | Israel, West Bank. Significant communities in Brazil | 5.1 million (1998) |
| Slovak | Indo-European, Slavic, West | Slovakia. Significant communities in Hungary and Serbia and Montenegro | 5.0 million (1990 WA) |
| Mòoré | Niger-Congo, Gur | Burkina Faso, Togo | ~5 million (1991) |
| Swahili | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Kenya, Tanzania. Significant communities in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda | ~5 million native, ~ 30–50 million second language |
| Guarani | Tupi | Paraguay. Significant communities in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil | 4.9 million (1995) |
| Rundi | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda | 4.9 million (1986) (dated data) |
| Sesotho (southern) | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Lesotho, South Africa. | 4.9 million (1996 census) |
| Sicilian | Indo-European, Romance | Significant communities in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, United States, Canada, Argentina, Brasil, Venezuela, Australia | 4.8 million (2000 WCD) |
| Norwegian | Indo-European, Germanic | Norway. Significant communities in Canada | 4.6 million [Wikipedia figure; needs confirmation] |
| Tibetan | Tibeto-Burman | China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Taiwan | 4.6 million, all varieties |
| Tswana | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe | 4.4 million native, 0.2 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1993 Johnstone) (dated data) |
| Kashmiri | Indo-European, Indic | India, Pakistan. Significant communities in United Kingdom | 4.6 million (1997) |
| Tigrigna | Afro-Asiatic, Semitic | Eritrea, Ethiopia | 4.5 million native, 0.1 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1998 census) |
| Assyrian | Afro-Asiatic, Semitic | Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria | 4.5 million. |
| Georgian | Kartvelian | Georgia. Significant communities in Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine | 4.2 million (1993 UBS) |
| Umbundu | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Angola | ~4 million native, unknown number second language (1995 WA) |
| Konkani | Indo-European, Indic | India | ~4 million (1999 WA) |
| Balinese | Austronesian | Indonesia (Bali) | 3.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Northern Sotho (sePedi) | Niger-Congo, Bantu | 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 | The Gambia, Senegal | 3.6 million native (2002), unknown number second language |
| Bemba | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3.6 million native, unknown number second language (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Bugis | Austronesian | Indonesia, Malaysia | 3.5 million native, 0.5 million second language, = ~4 million total (1991 SIL) |
| Luo | Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic | Kenya, Tanzania | 3.5 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data) |
| Bicolano | Austronesian | Philippines | 3.5 million all varieties (1990 census) |
| 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 | Mozambique, South Africa | 3.3 million (1989, 1996) (dated data) |
| Galician | Indo-European, Romance | Spain, PortugalSignificant communities in Brazil. | 3.2 million (1986) (data dated) |
| Sukuma | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Tanzania | 3.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Yiddish | Indo-European, Germanic | United States, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Israel Significant communities in Brazil | 3.2 million |
| Jamaican Creole English | Indo-European, Germanic, Creole | Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica | 3.2 million (2001) |
| Central Atlas Tamazight | Afro-Asiatic, Berber | Algeria, Morocco | ~3.2 million (1998) |
| Kabyle | Afro-Asiatic, Berber | Algeria. Significant communities in France. | 3.1 to ~6 million (1995–1998) |
| Kyrgyz | Altaic, Turkic | Kyrgyzstan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan | 3.1 million (1993 UBS) (dated data) |
| Ewe | Niger-Congo | Ghana, Togo | 3.1 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 3.6 million total (2003) |
| Lithuanian | Indo-European, Baltic | Lithuania. Significant communities in Belarus, Brazil, Latvia, Poland, Russia | 3.1 million (1998) |
| Ganda | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Uganda | 3.0 million native (1991 census), ~1 million second language (1999 WA), = ~ 4 million total |
| Aceh | Austronesian | Indonesia | ~3 million (1999 WA) |
| Tachelhit | Afro-Asiatic, Berber | Morocco | ~3 million (1998) |
| kiMbundu | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Angola | ~3 million (1999 WA) |
| Hindko | Indo-European, Indic | Pakistan | ~3 million (1993) (dated data) |
1–3 million native speakers
| Language | Family | Official status and where spoken, natively, by more than 1% of the population | Number of speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajbangsi | Indo-European, Indic | India | 3.0 million (1991 census) (dated data) |
| Romani | Indo-European, Indic | Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia | 2.9 million, all varieties (data for Vlax 2002–2004) |
| Garhwali | Indo-European, Indic | India | 2.9 million (2000) |
| Bambara | Niger-Congo, Mande | Mali | 2.8 million native, 10 million second language, = 13 million total |
| Ometo | Afro-Asiatic, Omotic | Ethiopia | 2.8 million (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 |
| Ndau | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Mozambique | 2.7 million (2000 Chebanne) |
| 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 | Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso | 2.6 million, all varieties (1991, 1993, 2001) (dated data) |
| Kalenjin | Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic | Kenya | 2.5 million (1989 census) (dated data) |
| Maninka | Niger-Congo, Mande | Guinea, Mali | ~2.5 million |
| Kumauni | Indo-European, Indic | India | 2.4 million in India (1998) |
| Kamba | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Kenya | 2.4 million (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) |
| Quiche | Mayan | Guatemala | 2.3 million (2000 SIL) |
| Bosniak | Indo-European, Slavic, South | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1.8–2.7 million (2004) [needs verification] |
| Aymara | Aymaran | Bolivia, Peru. Significan 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 |
| Zarma | Nilo-Saharan, Songhai | Niger, Nigeria | 2.2 million (1998) |
| Baoule | Niger-Congo, Kwa | Côte d'Ivoire | 2.1 million (1993 SIL) (dated data) |
| Dogri | Indo-European, Indic | India | 2.1 million (1997) |
| Lingala | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo | 2.1 million native (2000 WCD), 7 million second language in DRC (1999 WA), unknown additional second language speakers in RoC, = 9+ million total. |
| Sasak | Austronesian | Indonesia | 2.1 million (1989) (dated data) |
| Kurux | Dravidian | India, Nepal | 2.1 million (1997) |
| Mundari | Austro-Asiatic, Munda | India | 2.1 million (1997) |
| Dinka | Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic | Sudan | 2+ million |
| Slovenian | Indo-European, Slavic | Slovenia, Austria, Italy, United States | 2.0 million (1991 census) (dated data) |
| Buyei | Tai-Kadai | China | ~2 million (1990 census) (dated data) |
| Kongo | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo | ~2 million (1986 UBS, 2000 WCD) (dated data) |
| Beti | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé e Príncipe. | ~2 million. Includes Fang, Ewondo, etc. |
| Dimli | Indo-European, Iranian | Turkey | 1.5 to 2.5 million (all dialects) (1998 Paul) |
| Tulu | Dravidian | India | 1.9 million (1997) |
| Pampangan | Austronesian | Philippines | 1.9 million (1990 census) (dated data) |
| Sidamo | Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic | Ethiopia | 1.9 million, 0.1 million second language, = 2.0 million total (1998 census) |
| Bashkir | Altaic, Turkic | Russia | 1.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Yao | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique | ~1.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Chuvash | Altaic, Turkic | Russia, Kazakhstan | 1.8 million native, 0.2 million second language, = 2.0 million total (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Ijaw | Niger-Congo, unclassified | Nigeria | 1.8 million (all varieties) |
| Ibibio | Niger-Congo, Cross River | Nigeria | 1.5 to 2 million (1998 B. Connell) |
| Tarifit | Afro-Asiatic, Berber | Morocco | 1.7 million (1991) (dated data) |
| Fon | Niger-Congo, Kwa | Benin | 1.7 million native (2000 Hoddenbagh), unknown number second language |
| Swati | Niger-Congo, Bantu | South Africa, Swaziland | 1.7 million (1996 census, 1993 Johnstone) |
| Nyankore | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Uganda | 1.6 million (1991 census) (dated data) |
| Tatar | Altaic, Turkic | Russia, Ukraine | 1.6 million (1989 census) [6.6 million ethnic Tatar] |
| Makasar | Austronesian | Indonesia | 1.6 million native, 0.4 million second language, = 2 million total (1989) (dated data) |
| Macedonian | Indo-European, Slavic | Macedonia, Albania | 1.6 million (1986) (dated data) |
| Gusii | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Kenya | 1.6 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data) |
| Khandesi | Indo-European, Indic | India | 1.6 million (1997) |
| Ndebele | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Zimbabwe, South Africa | 1.6 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Chin | Tibetan-Burman | Myanmar, India | 1.6 million (1990 BAP, 1996 UBS) (dated data). All varieties, but not including Mizo etc. |
| Latvian | Indo-European, Baltic | Latvia, United States, Russia, Australia, Canada | 1.5 million |
| Tonga | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe | 1.5 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Lampung | Austronesian | Indonesia | ~1.5 million (1981 Wurm and Hattori) (dated data) |
| Sardinian | Indo-European, Romance | Italy | ~1.5 million (1977 M. Ibba, Rutgers University) (dated data) |
| Qashqai | Altaic, Turkic | Iran | ~1.5 million (1997) |
| Dong | Tai-Kadai | China | 1.5 million |
| Mende | Niger-Congo, Mande | Sierra Leone, Liberia | 1.5 million native, unknown number second language (1987 UBS) (dated data) |
| Tày | Tai-Kadai | Vietnam | 1.5 million in Viet Nam (1999 census) |
| Nahuatl | Uto-Aztecan, isolate | Mexico | 1.4 million (all varieties) (dated data) |
| Afar | Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic | Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti | 1.4 million (1998 census) |
| Tachawit | Afro-Asiatic, Berber | Algeria | ~1.4 million (1993) (dated data) |
| Koli | Indo-European, Indic | India, Pakistan | 1.4 million, all varieties (some data dated) |
| Chiga | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Uganda | 1.4 million (1991 census) (dated data) |
| Soga | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Uganda | 1.4 million (1991 census) (dated data) |
| Tumbuka | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia | 1.3 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Yao (Mien) | Hmong-Mien, Yao | China | 1.3 million, all varieties (1995 Wang and Mao) |
| Meru | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Kenya | 1.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data) |
| Gogo | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Tanzania | ~1.3 million (1992 UBS) (dated data) |
| Teso | Nilo-Saharan, Nilotic | Uganda, Kenya | 1.3 million (1991 census) (dated data) |
| Meitei | Tibetan-Burman | India | 1.3 million (1997) |
| Makonde | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Tanzania, Mozambique | 1.3 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
| Bai | Tibetan-Burman, unclassified | China | 1.2 million (2003) |
| Vlaams | Indo-European, Germanic | Belgium, Netherlands | 1.2 million (1998 U. of Ghent) |
| Mandinka | Niger-Congo, Mande | Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal | 1.2 million (2002) |
| Jula | Niger-Congo, Mande | Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso | ~1.2 million native, 3 to 4 million second language |
| Temne | Niger-Congo, Atlantic | Sierra Leone | ~1.2 million native, 0.2 million second language, = ~1.4 million total (1989 J. Kaiser) (dated data) |
| Haya | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Tanzania | ~1.2 million (1991 UBS) (dated data) |
| Serer | Niger-Congo, Atlantic | Gambia, Senegal | 1.2 million (2002) |
| Pangasinan | Austronesian | Philippines | 1.2 million (1990 census) (dated data) |
| Bedawi | Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic or isolate | Sudan, Eritrea, Egypt | 1.2 million (1982 SIL) (dated data) |
| Sena | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Mozambique, Malawi | 1.2 million |
| Zande | Niger-Congo, Ubangian | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Central African Republic | 1.1 million (dated data) |
| Walloon | Indo-European, Romance | Belgium | 1.1 million (1998) |
| Malvi | Indo-European, Indic | India | 1.1 million (1997) |
| Soninke | Niger-Congo, Mande | Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Mauritania | 1.1 million (1991) (dated data) |
| Ho | Austro-Asiatic, Munda | India | 1.08 million (1997) |
| Estonian | Uralic, Finnic | Estonia, Russia, United States, Canada | 1.08 million (1989 census) (dated data) |
| Nyakyusa | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Tanzania, Malawi | 1.05 million (1992 UBS) (dated data) |
| Ngbaka | Niger-Congo, Ubangian | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic | 1.02 million (2000 WCD) |
| Naga | Tibetan-Burman | India | 1.03 million, all varieties (1997) |
| Tausug | Austronesian | Philippines | 1.02 million (2000 SIL) |
| Chokwe | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia | 1.01 million (1990 UBS) (dated data) |
| Magindanaon | Austronesian | Philippines | ~1 million (1990 census) (dated data) |
| Anaang | Niger-Congo, Cross River | Nigeria | ~1 million (1990) (dated data) |
| Songe | Niger-Congo, Bantu | Democratic Republic of the Congo | ~1 million (1991 WA) (dated data) |
| Rejang | Austronesian | Indonesia | ~1 million (1981 Wurm and Hattori) (dated data) |
| Bini | Niger-Congo, Edo | Nigeria | ~1 million (1999 WA) |
| Ebira | Niger-Congo, Nupe | Nigeria | ~1 million (1989 J. Adive) (dated data) |
| Gujari | Indo-European, Indic | Afghanistan, India, Pakistan | 0.99 million (2000 WCD) |
| Tharu | Indo-European, Indic | Nepal | 0.99 million, all varieties |
| Chechen | Caucasic, Dagestani | Russia | 0.96 million (1989 census) (dated data!) |
| Arakanese | Tibetan-Burman | Myanmar, Bangladesh | 0.95 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) |
Major Source: Ethnologue, 15th edition online
Note 2: According to combined estimates from the CIA, Ethnologue, and [1].