GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Asian Languages Popularity Statistics

Asian languages are among the most widely spoken languages in the world, with Chinese, Hindi, and Japanese ranking as the top three most popular languages by number of speakers.

Last Updated: June 23, 2024

Written & Summarized by: Jannik Lindner

How we write

In this post, we explore the growing popularity of Asian languages worldwide, backed by a range of compelling statistics. From the increasing demand for Vietnamese and Korean language courses to the widespread fascination with Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, these figures highlight the significant impact and relevance of Asian languages in today’s global landscape.

Statistic 1

"Vietnam has seen a 25% annual increase in Vietnamese language courses in the United States."

Statistic 2

"60% of multilingual children in New York City public schools speak an Asian language at home."

Statistic 3

"The Korean Wave (Hallyu) has significantly increased global interest in learning the Korean language."

Statistic 4

"Thai is spoken by about 70 million people."

Statistic 5

"The number of Japanese language learners outside Japan exceeded 3.9 million in 2020."

Statistic 6

"Hindi is increasingly popular among diaspora communities in the United States and Canada."

Statistic 7

"Interest in learning Asian languages has surged in Europe with a 50% increase in enrollment in language courses from 2015 to 2020."

Statistic 8

"Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world with over 1 billion native speakers."

Statistic 9

"The number of primary and secondary schools offering Mandarin has grown by 150% over the past decade."

Statistic 10

"Vietnamese is spoken by over 76 million people worldwide."

Statistic 11

"The number of foreign students studying Mandarin Chinese has increased by 300% in the last decade."

Statistic 12

"Around 20 million people around the world are currently learning Japanese as a second language."

Statistic 13

"Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil, rank among the top 20 most spoken languages globally."

Statistic 14

"Tagalog/Filipino is spoken by approximately 28 million people as a first language and 45 million as a second language."

Statistic 15

"Korean has around 77 million speakers globally."

Statistic 16

"Urdu is spoken by around 68 million people in Pakistan and India."

Statistic 17

"Enrollment in Asian language courses at U.S. universities increased by 15% from 2010 to 2019."

Statistic 18

"Korean language learning apps have over 10 million active users globally."

Statistic 19

"Tamil language courses are now offered at universities in over 20 countries."

Statistic 20

"Japanese is the ninth most spoken language in the world, with over 125 million speakers."

The popularity of Asian languages is on the rise globally, driven by various factors such as cultural influences like the Korean Wave, sheer numbers of native speakers, and the increasing interest in diaspora communities. The statistics paint a clear picture of this trend, with significant increases in enrollment in language courses, growing numbers of speakers for languages like Mandarin, Japanese, and Hindi, as well as the availability of courses in universities worldwide. The diversity and reach of Asian languages, from Vietnamese to Urdu, highlight their importance in the increasingly interconnected world we live in today.