Spanish Speakers Surpass 600 Million Worldwide, but Could the True Figure Be Even Higher?

The number of Spanish speakers globally has exceeded 600 million for the first time.

According to Spanish in the World 2024, the latest report by the Instituto Cervantes, there are now 600,607,806 Spanish speakers, accounting for 7.5% of the global population. 

The Instituto Cervantes, a leading organisation dedicated to the promotion of Spanish language and culture worldwide, published the report in November 2024.

Of this figure, 499 million are native speakers, making Spanish the second most widely spoken mother tongue in the world, trailing only Mandarin.

Luis García Montero, director of the Instituto Cervantes, called the data “a source of pride but not a cause for self-satisfaction,” adding, “We face many challenges ahead but can take comfort in the cultural strength of Spanish as a democratic and unifying force in a complex world.” 

He also highlighted the economic impact of the Spanish-speaking world, which contributes over 6% to global GDP.

Could expats & tourists mean the true figure is higher?

New analysis suggests that the number of Spanish speakers may be underestimated, with tourism and expat communities adding significantly to the total.

A study conducted by Barcelona-based language school Speakeasy BCN reveals that nearly 22% of tourists visiting Spain come for “cultural and linguistic immersion”. 

With Spain welcoming 85 million visitors in 2023, this could mean an additional 17 million individuals worldwide are able to speak at least some Spanish—which could bring the total number of people with some Spanish proficiency to over 617 million.

Speakeasy BCN also reports that Spain is home to an estimated 202,000 foreign residents with second homes, many of whom spend extended periods in the country. These individuals, along with temporary workers and tourists who enrol in Spanish courses, represent a growing demographic of non-native Spanish speakers.

“Many of our students are tourists seeking short-term language courses, but we also see a large number of expat or second-home owners who take private or evening classes to integrate into Spanish culture,” said Marielle Poorte, the marketing director at Speakeasy BCN. 

“It’s fascinating to see how Spanish is becoming a bridge for cultural exchange on a global scale.”

She said that if these additional Spanish speakers were accounted for, the language would move ahead of Hindi, with its officially recorded 609 million speakers, to become the third most widely spoken language in the world.