Language Families with the Highest Number of Speakers
Indo-European languages are spoken by the highest number of people in the world.

What Is a Language Family?
The term language family is used to describe a number of related languages, which are believed to have developed from the same proto-language. Linguists call each descendant of the same language family a daughter language, and all speakers within a language family are part of a common speech community. Linguists have identified at least 135 living language families, and an additional 12 that are now extinct. This article examines which of these living language families have the largest common speech community, or the number of speakers.
Language Families with the Highest Number of Speakers
1. Indo-European Languages
The Indo-European language family is the largest in the world. It consists of 437 daughter languages and has an estimated 2.91 billion speakers across Europe and Asia. This number of speakers represents nearly half of the total global population. Some of the most widely used Indo-European languages include English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Punjabi, Bengali, and Hindustani. All of these modern languages descend from Proto-Indo-European, which developed during the Neolithic age. As the human population dispersed throughout the region, distance and geographic barriers created isolated pockets of civilizations. Over time, new languages and dialects formed. Some of the most important of these early languages include Latin, Mycenaean Greek, and Vedic Sanskrit.
2. Sino-Tibetan Languages
The Sino-Tibetan language family is the second largest in the world. It consists of 453 daughter languages and has around 1.268 billion speakers throughout Asia. Some of these languages are spoken only by small populations that live in remote locations. This isolation means that linguists have been unable to thoroughly research and document these languages. The most widely spoken of the Sino-Tibetan daughter languages are Tibetan, Burmese, and Chinese. Of these, Chinese and all of its variants and dialects have 1.3 billion speakers, more than any other language in the world. All modern-day Sino-Tibetan languages have evolved from the Proto-Sino-Tibetan language.
3. Niger-Congo Languages
The third largest language family in the world and the largest in Africa is the Niger-Congo. It consists of 1,524 daughter languages and has around 437 million speakers throughout Africa. This language family is further divided into 6 subgroups: Katla, Atlantic-Congo, Ijo, Dogon, Mande, and Rashad. Of the Niger-Congo languages, Swahili is the most widely used, with between 2 and 15 million native speakers and between 50 and 100 million second language speakers. It is the official language of Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other languages, however, have a larger number of native speakers, including Igbo, Shona, Yoruba, and Fula.
4. Austronesian Languages
The Austronesian language family is the fourth largest in the world in terms of the number of speakers. It is made up of 1,224 daughter languages and has approximately 386 million speakers spread throughout Oceania, Maritime Southeast Asia, and a few regions of mainland Asia. In terms of the number of languages, it is the second largest language family in the world and represents 20% of the tongues spoken in the world today. Some of the most widespread Austronesian languages include Javanese, Tagalog, and Malay. This language family once covered the largest area on earth, until it was surpassed by the Euro-Indonesian family during the era of European colonization.
Language Families With The Highest Number Of Speakers
Rank | Language Family | Current Speakers | Location |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Indo-European languages | 2,910,000,000 | Asia, Europe |
2 | Sino-Tibetan languages | 1,268,000,000 | Asia |
3 | Niger–Congo languages | 437,000,000 | Africa |
4 | Austronesian languages | 386,000,000 | Asia, Oceania |
5 | Afro-Asiatic languages | 380,000,000 | Africa, Asia |
6 | Dravidian languages | 229,000,000 | Asia |
7 | Turkic languages | 170,000,000 | Asia, Europe |
8 | Japonic languages | 129,000,000 | Asia |
9 | Austroasiatic languages | 103,000,000 | Asia |
10 | Tai–Kadai languages | 80,800,000 | Asia |
11 | Koreanic languages | 77,200,000 | Asia |
12 | Nilo-Saharan languages | 42,800,000 | Africa |
13 | Mande languages | 27,003,000 | Africa |
14 | Uralic languages | 20,600,000 | Asia, Europe |
15 | Miao-Yao languages | 9,330,000 | Asia |
16 | Quechuan languages | 8,946,020 | South America |
17 | Mongolic languages | 6,900,000 | Asia |
18 | Mayan languages | 6,522,182 | North America |
19 | Tupian languages | 5,026,502 | South America |
20 | Kartvelian languages | 4,850,000 | Asia, Europe |
21 | Northeast Caucasian languages | 4,155,258 | Asia, Europe |
22 | Trans–New Guinea | 3,540,024 | New Guinea |
23 | Songhay languages | 3,228,000 | Africa |
24 | Aymaran languages | 2,808,740 | South America |
25 | Ubangian languages | 2,500,000 | Africa |
26 | Uto-Aztecan languages | 1,910,442 | North America |
27 | Oto-Manguean languages | 1,678,214 | North America |
28 | Northwest Caucasian languages | 1,655,000 | Asia, Europe |
29 | Arawakan languages | 699,709 | South America |
30 | Khoe languages | 337,337 | Africa |
31 | Chibchan languages | 306,267 | South America |
32 | Totonacan languages | 282,250 | North America |
33 | West Papuan languages | 269,425 | New Guinea |
34 | Araucanian languages | 262,000 | South America |
35 | Algic languages | 214,768 | North America |
36 | Na-Dene languages | 208,552 | North America |
37 | Misumalpan languages | 192,050 | South America |
38 | Sepik languages | 162,704 | New Guinea |
39 | Mixe–Zoquean languages | 153,612 | North America |
40 | Kadu languages | 120,600 | Africa |
41 | Choco languages | 114,600 | South America |
42 | Torricelli languages | 113,705 | New Guinea |
43 | Eskimo–Aleut languages | 108,705 | North America |
44 | Kx'a languages | 104,000 | Africa |
45 | Jivaroan languages | 89,630 | South America |
46 | East Bird's Head – Sentani languages | 71,730 | New Guinea |
47 | South Bougainville languages | 68,700 | New Guinea |
48 | Carib languages | 67,376 | South America |
49 | Ramu – Lower Sepik languages | 65,830 | New Guinea |
50 | Matacoan languages | 60,280 | South America |
51 | Tungusic languages | 55,800 | Asia |
52 | Koman languages | 50,000 | Africa |
53 | Guaicuruan languages | 49,350 | South America |
54 | Ge languages | 44,335 | South America |
55 | Pano–Tacanan languages (proposed) | 42,014 | South America |
56 | Siouan–Catawban languages | 33,399 | North America |
57 | Yanomam languages | 31,670 | South America |
58 | Tucanoan languages | 30,308 | South America |
59 | Barbacoan languages | 24,800 | South America |
60 | Pama–Nyungan languages | 23,539 | Australia |
61 | Mascoian languages | 20,728 | South America |
62 | Salivan languages | 18,630 | South America |
63 | Witotoan languages | 17,478 | South America |
64 | Border languages | 17,080 | New Guinea |
65 | Trans-Fly – Bulaka River languages | 16,312 | New Guinea |
66 | Tor–Kwerba languages | 16,195 | New Guinea |
67 | Muskogean languages | 15,640 | North America |
68 | Central Solomons languages | 14,810 | New Guinea |
69 | Iroquoian languages | 14,543 | North America |
70 | Baining languages | 13,800 | New Guinea |
71 | Keres languages | 10,670 | North America |
72 | Cahuapanan languages | 10,370 | South America |
73 | North Bougainville languages | 10,020 | New Guinea |
74 | Nimboran languages | 8,500 | New Guinea |
75 | Lakes Plain languages | 8,455 | New Guinea |
76 | East Geelvink Bay languages | 8,005 | New Guinea |
77 | Yuat languages | 7,700 | New Guinea |
78 | Hokan languages | 7,171 | North America |
79 | Luorawetlan languages | 6,875 | Asia |
80 | Eastern Trans-Fly languages | 6,760 | New Guinea |
81 | West New Britain languages | 6,550 | New Guinea |
82 | Tanoan languages | 6,000 | North America |
83 | Esmerelda–Yaruro languages (proposed) | 6,000 | South America |
84 | Zamucoan languages | 5,900 | South America |
85 | Arauan languages | 5,870 | South America |
86 | Peba–Yaguan languages | 5,700 | South America |
87 | Skou languages | 5,665 | New Guinea |
88 | Mosetenan languages | 5,320 | South America |
89 | Mairasi languages | 4,385 | New Guinea |
90 | Penutian (proposed) | 3,513 | North America |
91 | Siangic | 3,500 | Asia |
92 | Puinavean languages | 3,000 | South America |
93 | Senagi languages | 2,960 | New Guinea |
94 | Nadahup languages | 2,894 | South America |
95 | Fas languages | 2,840 | New Guinea |
96 | Piawi languages | 2,600 | New Guinea |
97 | Tuu languages | 2,500 | Africa |
98 | Chapacuran languages | 2,019 | South America |
99 | Left May languages | 2,005 | New Guinea |
100 | Southern Daly languages | 1980 | Australia |
101 | Salishan languages | 1,969 | North America |
102 | Arnhem Land languages (proposed) | 1811 | Australia |
103 | Kwomtari languages | 1,510 | New Guinea |
104 | Gunwinyguan languages | 1314 | Australia |
105 | Mashakalian languages | 1,270 | South America |
106 | Uru–Chipaya languages | 1,200 | South America |
107 | Nambiquaran languages (5) | 1,068 | South America |
108 | Yukaghir languages | 740 | Asia |
109 | Wakashan languages | 710 | North America |
110 | Hodï languages | 640 | South America |
111 | Andamanese languages | 501 | Asia |
112 | Mura languages | 360 | South America |
113 | Jicaquean languages | 350 | South America |
114 | Ongan languages | 296 | Asia |
115 | Mirndi languages | 261 | Australia |
116 | Yeniseian languages | 211 | Asia |
117 | Djeragan languages | 130 | Australia |
118 | Wororan languages | 108 | Australia |
119 | Bunaban languages | 100 | Australia |
120 | Nyulnyulan languages | 94 | Australia |
121 | Zaparoan languages | 90 | South America |
122 | Arutani–Sape languages (proposed) | 47 | South America |
123 | Caddoan languages | 46 | North America |
124 | Yok-Utian languages | 35 | North America |
125 | Limilngan languages | 23 | Australia |
126 | Western Daly languages | 21 | Australia |
127 | Alacalufan languages | 12 | South America |
128 | Katukinan languages | 10 | South America |
129 | Chimakuan languages | 10 | North America |
130 | Katembri–Taruma languages | 10 | South America |
131 | Lule–Vilela languages | 10 | South America |
132 | Wagaydyic languages | 5 | Australia |
133 | Yabutian languages | 3 | South America |
134 | Tiniguan languages | 1 | South America |
135 | Wintuan languages | 1 | North America |
136 | Jirajaran languages | extinct | South America |
137 | Yukian languages | extinct | North America |
138 | Hibito–Cholon languages | extinct | South America |
139 | Lencan languages | extinct | South America |
140 | Otomakoan languages | extinct | South America |
141 | Catacaoan languages | extinct | South America |
142 | Charruan languages | extinct | South America |
143 | Chimuan languages | extinct | South America |
144 | Chon languages | extinct | South America |
145 | Tequiraca–Canichana languages | extinct | South America |
146 | Timotean languages | extinct | South America |
147 | Xincan languages | extinct | South America |
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