The presented line chart compares the number of people per million who studied and are projected to study three languages – English, Spanish, and Mandarin – over the period from 2020 to 2030.
Overall, the trends for all three languages indicate steady growth, with the number of learners expected to continue increasing throughout the next two decades.
English was the most widely studied language at the beginning, with nearly 550 learners per million in 2020. This figure climbed significantly to 700 in 2024, before dipping slightly to just under 650 in 2026. Nevertheless, English learners are projected to rise again, reaching roughly 750 per million by 2030.
Spanish began at just over 200 per million in 2020. The number increased moderately, reaching nearly 350 in 2025, the same level as Mandarin at that time. Thereafter, Spanish learners are expected to grow further, approaching just under 500 per million by 2030.
Mandarin had the lowest initial figure, at around 100 learners per million in 2020. However, it saw a sharp increase to about 350 in 2025. Following this, Mandarin is forecast to continue climbing considerably, nearly reaching 600 per million in 2030.