GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Average Person Word Knowledge Statistics

The average person has a moderate level of word knowledge based on statistics.

Last Updated: June 20, 2024

How we write

In this post, we explore fascinating statistics related to the average person’s word knowledge. From the vocabulary size of English speakers to the number of words learned at different stages of life, these insights shed light on the remarkable linguistic capabilities of individuals across various age groups.

Statistic 1

"The average English speaker has a vocabulary of approximately 20,000 to 35,000 words."

Statistic 2

"Most English speakers use only about 5,000 to 10,000 words in their everyday conversations."

Statistic 3

"The average person learns one new word every two days during their teenage years."

Statistic 4

"Active vocabulary in adults tends to be around 20,000 words."

Statistic 5

"The average 1-year-old child knows about 50 words."

Statistic 6

"The average 2-year-old can understand approximately 200-300 words."

Statistic 7

"The average 3-year-old knows around 1,000 words."

Statistic 8

"Most high-school graduates have a vocabulary of around 10,000 words."

Statistic 9

"The average adult knows 20,000-35,000 words, but uses only 5,000-10,000 regularly."

Statistic 10

"Shakespear used around 31,534 words across his works, suggesting his vocabulary was significantly greater than the average person."

Statistic 11

"According to recent research, by the age of 20, the average native English speaker has an active vocabulary of about 42,000 words."

Statistic 12

"For every two new words you come across, you’ll usually understand one of them without seeking a definition."

Statistic 13

"The average child will be exposed to 45 million words by age four."

Statistic 14

"The average high school student has a vocabulary of 10,000 words."

Statistic 15

"The average person learns 15 words per day between the ages of 20 and 60."

Statistic 16

"It is estimated that there are 1.5 million total English words – but the average person knows only 20,000 to 35,000 words of them."

Based on various statistics related to word knowledge and vocabulary acquisition, it is evident that the average person’s vocabulary expands significantly from childhood to adulthood, with varying degrees of word retention and usage. While children start with a modest number of words and steadily increase their vocabulary size, adults tend to have a larger active vocabulary, though they predominantly use a fraction of the total words they know in everyday conversations. The findings also highlight the influence of education and exposure on word acquisition, as evidenced by the differences in vocabulary sizes among high-school graduates and individuals with higher education levels. Overall, these statistics shed light on the complexity of language development and the continuous growth of word knowledge throughout one’s lifetime.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik is the Co-Founder of Gitnux and has been working in the digital space since 2016. He is specialized in content and tech.

Can You Trust Our Report?

The statistics are checked by us and then entered into the database. Our market data reports have been linked to by some of the largest publishers and companies on the Internet.

Learn more about our process here.