Times are a-changin’. As the world shifts, we’ll see different languages take on importance. It’s exciting to think about what are the best languages to learn for future careers and travel. At the same time, global trends such as internet usage may also influence your personal interests for language-learning. 

While it’s hard to predict exactly what languages will gain prominence, we’ve done our best to look into the future and select the top ten best languages to learn.

 

Explaining the criteria behind the best languages to learn 

The aim of this list of best languages to learn is to help you consider languages that could be essential for your future career and travels, as well as how world trends may shake out. In creating this list, we’ve focused on four key categories:

• Speaker coverage: How many native speakers are there? How many secondary speakers? Is there geographic variation? Is there a high native population growth rate?

• Business & trade: Do countries who speak this language have a strong economy? What is their GDP ranking? Is it predicted to grow over time? Are there developing regions involved? Does learning this language represent a good career opportunity?

• Media & culture: How much cultural influence does this language have? Does it have strong internet usage? Are there university strongholds for this language? Is there a unique cultural interest in this language? 

• Travel & tourism: Is there strong tourist interest for this language? How many tourists visit per year? 

Of course, your own personal ranking of best languages to learn may include other categories, or factor in other interests. 

 

Our lament for dying languages 

Every two weeks a language dies with its last speaker. In fact, Ethnologue has identified 2,926 languages that are endangered today, which accounts for 41% of living languages. Some predict that up to 90% of languages will disappear by 2100. 

Here at Verbalicity, we love languages and we’re hopeful that efforts like Wikitongues will help to revitalize these languages. Without them, our world will lose amazing diversity!

Our goal with this article is to help you decide which language may be useful to your career and travels. “Useful” is of course a relative term. You should feel free to learn whatever language interests you most. 

Spoiler: you don’t have to choose one! Perhaps you’d like to learn Mandarin to help you in your career and an endangered language out of personal interest. As language lovers, we’re fully supportive of your language-learning choices! 

 

Note on what the best languages to learn mean to you 

As you read our list of best languages to learn, you decide which are best for you! You can think about what may be useful to your future career, travels or other areas of personal interest. Our hope is that you’ll discover some languages that weren’t previously on your radar. Good luck!

 

1. Mandarin (20/20)

Mandarin aces all areas of potential language growth. China’s booming status as the #1 economy in the world gives Mandarin an edge, as future businessmen may need it to woo their Chinese partners. To give you an idea, experts predict that China and India will hold 50% of the world’s GDP by 2050. Wow!

Besides advantageous economic trends, Mandarin benefits from an already large population of native speakers, high internet usage and China’s privileged status as the #4 international tourist destination in the world. 

Though some might argue that China is still fairly isolated today, Mandarin is our top choice for best languages to learn because it will be useful when China comes to the forefront.

• Speaker Coverage (5/5)

• • 917 million native speakers (#1 in the world)
  • 199 million non-native speakers 
  • Official status in 3 countries (China, Taiwan and Singapore)
  • 0.5% annual population growth

• Business & Trade (5/5)

• • $27.31 trillion GDP (#1 in the world)
  • 15.5% share of the global economy
  • Spiking economic trend, with China becoming nearly 50% larger than the U.S. by 2050

• Media & Culture (5/5)

• • 24% of the world’s internet usage (#2 in the world)
  • 30 Chinese universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (5/5)

• • 65.7 million tourists annually (#4 in the world, just above Italy)
  • $277 billion investment in tourism annually (#1 in the world)

     

2. English (19/20)

English is often cited as the “language of globalization,” though some scholars believe it may have reached its peak. In any case, the economic dominance and colonial history of English-speaking countries like the U.S. and the U.K. have made a mark across the world. 

English has some strong advantages to become one of the best languages to learn. It has the largest non-native speaker population in the world and huge diplomatic usage as an official language in 50+ countries. Likewise, English is dominant online as the language with the highest internet usage. The U.S. is also the #3 international tourist destination. 

However, while the U.S. has a bustling economy, the trend is turning downward. Experts predict it will soon be the #3 economy in the world with nearly 50% less GDP than China by 2050. This could significantly impact business relationships and the focus on teaching English worldwide. Instead, countries may opt for Mandarin as a greater opportunity for the future. 

• Speaker Coverage (5/5)

• • 379 million native speakers
  • 753 million non-native speakers (#1 in the world)
  • Official status in 50+ countries but most Anglosphere native speakers reside in the U.S. (64%), followed by the U.K., Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, and others. 
  • 0.6% annual population growth in the U.S. 

• Business & Trade (4/5)

• • $21.44 trillion (#1 in the world)
  • 23.6% share of the global economy
  • Downward economic trend, with experts predicting #3 economy by 2050

• Media & Culture (5/5)

• • 52.3% of websites written in English
  • 27% of the world’s internet usage (#1 in the world)
  • 65 American universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (5/5)

• • 79.3 million tourists annually (#3 in the world)
  • $144 billion investment in tourism annually (#1 in the world)

     

3. Spanish (18/20)

Spanish is another tried-and-true language that’s steadily growing across the 21 Spanish-speaking countries across three continents. It’s already the #2 most populous language after Mandarin and growing. It’s one of the best languages to learn because of its booming population, which includes the U.S. too. In fact, estimates suggest that the U.S. will have the most Spanish speakers in the world by 2050. 

Spanish holds the #3 spot for the world’s internet usage and boasts of an enormous amount of tourism. Just counting the two biggest Spanish-speaking destinations, Spain and Mexico easily exceed a billion tourists annually. And that’s not even counting the other 19 countries that are some of the most coveted destinations in the world!

At the same time, Latin American economies are emerging to grow and should steadily improve in the next decades. In particular, Mexico is predicted to spike in the GDP rankings.

In addition, if you’re an English native speaker, Spanish is considered the easiest language to learn!

(Psst. Check out Verbalicity’s massive, FREE guide to the Best Way to Learn Spanish) 

• Speaker Coverage (5/5)

• • 460 million native speakers (#2 in the world)
  • 74.2 million non-native speakers
  • Official status in 21 countries including Latin America, Spain and Equatorial Guinea, plus a large Hispanic population in the U.S. 
  • 0.93% average annual population growth in Latin America

• Business & Trade (3/5)

• • Big Spanish-speaking economies include Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina. 
  • Mexico has $2.57 trillion GDP and Spain has $1.86 trillion GDP
  • Mexico’s economy is predicted to grow to nearly the size of Brazil by 2050
  • General upward economic trend for Latin American’s GDP

• Media & Culture (5/5)

• • 8% of the world’s internet usage (#3 in the world)
  • 15 Spanish, 2 Chilean and 2 Argentine universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (5/5)

• • 83.7 million tourists to Spain annually (#2 in the world)
  • 45 million tourists to Mexico annually (#7 in the world)

     

4. French (17/20)

Some scholars actually believe French will be the #1 language of the future, while others consider this prediction overblown. Perhaps the most powerful argument for French is its extensive speaker coverage in 21+ countries, touching almost every continent, and the potential for a booming French-speaking population especially from African nations. Estimates run as high as 650 million native French speakers by 2050. 

Meanwhile, France has a strong economy and good cultural influence, and is the #1 tourist destination in the world. Together these factors suggest that French will have sticking power in the future and will be one of the best languages to learn. 

• Speaker Coverage (5/5)

• • 76 million native speakers 
  • 274 non-native speakers, main of whom speak it as a second language in African nations
  • Official status in 29 countries spanning almost every continent including France and 4 other European nations, the DR Congo and 20 other African nations, plus Canada, Haiti and several Oceanic island nations like Vanuatu.
  • 3.2% annual population growth in DR Congo; 0.2% in France; 1.4% in Canada
  • Overall very high population growth rate in the 21 African nations that speak French

• Business & Trade (3/5)

• • France and Canada are both top 15 economies in the world, with France predicted to stay strong in 2050
  • African nations that speak French are predicted to grow rapidly out of their emerging economy status

• Media & Culture (4/5)

• • 3% of the world’s internet usage (top ten)
  • 10 French and 12 Canadian universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (5/5)

• • 89.4 million tourists to France annually (#1 in the world)

 

5. Portuguese (15/20)

Portuguese is a rapidly growing language and one of the best languages to learn. First, the population of Portuguese speakers in BRICS countries is growing rapidly, which means there will be more native speakers. Not to mention that Brazil’s economy is a powerhouse within the top 5 in the world and emerging Portuguese-speaking economies in Africa are also steadily growing. 

At the same time, Portuguese shows good internet usage and tourism as well. It’s a solid choice that’s sure to be useful in the next decades. 

• Speaker Coverage (4/5)

• • 220 million native speakers (top ten in the world)
  • ~50 million non-native speakers
  • Official language in 9 countries (Brazil, Portugal and African countries including Angola, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe)
  • 0.8% annual population growth in Brazil; 3.3% in Angola; 2.9% in Mozambique 

• Business & Trade (3/5)

• • Top Portuguese-speaking economy is Brazil with $3.37 trillion GDP. 
  • Brazil’s economy is predicted to grow to #5 economy by 2050. 
  • General upward economic trend for African nations’ GDP

• Media & Culture (4/5)

• • 4% of the world’s internet usage (#5 in the world)
  • 6 Brazilian and 4 Portuguese universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (4/5)

• • 24.6 million to Portugal and 6.3 million tourists to Brazil

     

6. Hindi-Urdu (15/20)

India is wonderfully diverse linguistically, with 23 official languages. The most spoken language is Hindi with 341 million native speakers, plus another 274 million who speak it as a second or third language.

While English is used in government and business, only 12% of the Indian population can speak it. This makes Hindi an appealing choice of language for those interested in traveling to or doing business in India. 

At the same time, Hindi and Urdu are often grouped together because they are variants of the same language that use different scripts (Devanagari and Persian, respectively). They are mutually understandable. Urdu isn’t just common in India, however. It’s also an official language of Pakistan.  

Hindi-Urdu is one of the best languages to learn because of India’s booming economy, set to become #2 in the world ahead of the U.S. It also has some cultural influence and tourist interest. 

• Speaker Coverage (5/5)

• • 341 million native speakers (#4 in the world)
  • 274 million non-native speakers
  • Official status in 3 countries (India, Pakistan and Fiji)
  • 1% annual population growth in India; 2.1% in Pakistan; 0.7% in Fiji

• Business & Trade (5/5)

• • India’s economy is current #3 in the world with $10.51 trillion GDP
  • India is predicted to grow to the #2 economy, ahead of the U.S. by 2050
  • Pakistan is also a top 25 economy that is set to grow

• Media & Culture (3/5)

• • Strong presence in the literary and artistic fields, including Bollywood
  • No top internet usage with Hindi (likely due to linguistic diversity in India)
  • No universities in the top 500

• Travel & Tourism (2/5)

• • 17.9 million tourists to India annually

 

7. Arabic (14/20)

Arabic is one of those overlooked languages that has huge potential to grow. This is based both on its large native speaker population and its booming population growth. But there’s more to Arabic than just the vast numbers of speakers. 

Arabic is one of the best languages to learn because it has a solid footing in business, internet usage and tourism in Arab states. All three of these areas are trending upwards, especially regarding cultural influence as it’s the fastest-growing sector of internet users worldwide.  

• Speaker Coverage (5/5)

• • ~315 million native speakers (#5 in the world)
  • ~100 million non-native speakers
  • Difficulty determining speaker coverage because of 30+ varieties of Arabic dialects
  • 22 countries where Modern Standard Arabic is an official language, plus used as a working languages in a handful of other countries and territories 
  • Largest Arabic populations include Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. 
  • 1.925% average annual population growth in the Arab world

• Business & Trade (3/5)

• • Big Arabic-speaking economies include Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
  • Saudi Arabia’s economy is predicted to grow to #12 by 2050. 
  • General upward economic trend for the Arab world’s GDP.

• Media & Culture (3/5)

• • 3% of the world’s internet usage (within top 10)
  • 3 Saudi Arabian universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (3/5)

• • 39 million tourists to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt annually

 

8. Japanese (13/20)

Japanese may not be high on your radar, but in reality it’s also one of the best languages to learn. First, Japan’s economy is a giant and is predicted to maintain this status through 2050. It also has great cultural influence, as Japanese cuisine and media – especially anime – have become worldwide trends. 

Japanese doesn’t have the highest number of native speakers or tourists, but it’s a strong and steady group that also has large pockets in the U.S. and Brazil. Though its population is in decline, Japanese is sure to stay relevant as its tech-driven economy becomes even more essential in the modern future. 

• Speaker Coverage (2/5)

• • 128 million native speakers (top ten)
  • Official count of non-native speakers is in the thousands, though some believe it’s more like millions
  • Official status in Japan, though heavily spoken in the U.S. and Brazil
  • -0.2% annual population growth in Japan

• Business & Trade (4/5)

• • Japan is currently the #4 economy, with $5.75 trillion GDP
  • It’s predicted to stay within the top ten in 2050

• Media & Culture (4/5)

• • 5% of the world’s internet usage (#4 in the world)
  • 11 Japanese universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (3/5)

• • 32.2 million tourists to Japan annually (#3 in Asia)

 

9. Russian (12/20)

Russian is one of the best languages to learn because of it’s widely spoken across Eurasia and is the #2 internet language today. With so much website content in Russian, it’s surely transitioning to a modern future. 

Likewise, Russian has a strong economy and is predicted to maintain this status into 2050. While travel isn’t that common to Russian alone, many former Soviet countries still speak Russian as a second language. It can be a trusty language to travel in Eastern Europe and useful for desirable travel destinations in the region. 

• Speaker Coverage (3/5)

• • 150 million native speakers
  • 110 million non-native speakers
  • Official status in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well unofficially spoken across former Soviet countries (such as Ukraine) and immigration populations (such as Israel, Poland, the U.S. and China).
  • 0% annual population growth in Russia

• Business & Trade (3/5)

• • Russia’s economy is huge at $4.21 trillion GDP
  • It’s predicted to consistently fall within the top ten in 2050

• Media & Culture (4/5)

• • 5.9% of all websites are in Russian (#2 in the world)
  • 3% of the world’s internet usage (top ten)
  • 2 Russian universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (2/5)

• • 24.4 million tourists to Russia annually (#10 in Europe)

 

10. German (12/20)

Last but not least, German rounds out our list of the best languages to learn. Though it doesn’t have the same high number of native speakers of others on this list, Germany has significant economic and cultural influence. 

As Europe’s largest economy, Germany is set to stay on the business stage. It also has high internet and university usage, as well as a good number of tourists annually. Together, this makes German a great language for business or travel. In fact, a study shows that the ability to speak German could come with a wage increase of about 4%. Nice!

• Speaker Coverage (2/5)

• • 90 million native speakers
  • 74.2 million non-native speakers
  • Official status in 6 countries (Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein). It also has significant numbers of speakers in Italy, Poland and Brazil. 
  • 0.3% annual population growth in Germany

• Business & Trade (3/5)

• • Germany’s economy is #5 in the world with $4.44 trillion GDP
  • It’s predicted to remain in the top ten in 2050

• Media & Culture (4/5)

• • 3% of the world’s internet usage (top ten)
  • 28 German universities in the top 500 in the world

• Travel & Tourism (3/5)

• • 39.6 million tourists to Germany annually (#9 in the world)

 

Choose the best languages to learn for you 

Selecting the best languages to learn can be challenging. Your language goals will be unique to you, whether to boost your career, speak with locals when you travel, or interact with native speakers online. You might even want to learn a language that’s easiest for you, or take on the challenge of one of the hardest languages. 

Whatever your motivations, you’ll want to choose the one that interests you most. Once you’ve chosen the best language for you, it’s time to start learning! You can kick-start the process by:

• Set language goals: Goal-setting is a great idea to guide your learning. Define how often you want to practice or study the language, whether daily or weekly. You decide what’s best. Even just five minutes a day can keep the language fresh in your mind.
• Make the most of music, books, TV shows, movies, radio and newspapers: The culture of the language you’re learning is essential. It will help you learn vocabulary and listen to natural phrasing. Try to find materials that interest you, such as movies on Netflix. This can be motivating to learn a language.
• Get a language partner or teacher: To improve your speaking skill, you’ll want to find a language partner or teacher. Having that one-on-one time with a native speaker will boost your skills. A language teacher is ideal, as he/she will have the right techniques to speed up your learning. Wanna try your hand at learning Spanish? Take a free trial with Verbalicity.

No matter what language you choose – for your career, travels or personal interests – it’s sure to change your life for the better.