The line graph shows the projected number of global learners of three languages—English, Spanish, and Mandarin—over the period from 2020 to 2030.
Overall, English is expected to have the highest number of learners throughout the period, although its growth is less substantial compared to the other two languages. Both Spanish and Mandarin are projected to see an increase in learners, with Mandarin overtaking Spanish in the second half of the period.
At the beginning of the period, English starts with approximately 550 million learners, rising to 700 million by 2024 before experiencing a slight dip to just over 600 million in 2026. However, the number is expected to gradually rise to 750 million by 2030, the highest number of learners for any language during the period.
Spanish and Mandarin are also predicted to rise at similar rates initially. In 2020, Spanish has more learners (200 million) than Mandarin (100 million), but this changes by 2026 when both languages reach 350 million learners. From that point onward, Mandarin continues to grow faster, surpassing Spanish by 2030, with Mandarin reaching just under 600 million and Spanish reaching 500 million, reversing the initial gap seen in 2020.