In a surprising twist for the birthplace of the English language, the United Kingdom has been ranked only fourth in a new global list of countries with the highest number of English speakers.

The study, compiled by language platform Babel, reveals that while English is a primary or widely used language across much of the globe, population size and historical influence have a huge impact on where the language is most spoken. Below is the full list of countries with the world's most English speakers:

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

1. United States

Unsurprisingly, the United States leads the chart by a wide margin, with around 297.4 million English speakers. With English as its dominant language and a population of more than 330 million, America remains the epicentre of global English-speaking media, business, and education.

2. India

In second place is India, boasting an estimated 265 million English speakers. While not the country’s mother tongue, English is deeply embedded in India's legal, educational, and business systems – a legacy of British colonial rule that has evolved into a crucial second language across the country.

3. Nigeria

With over 111 million English speakers, Nigeria comes in third. Despite having more than 500 native languages, English serves as the official language and is a vital unifying tool in government, education, and national media.

4. United Kingdom

Coming in fourth is the UK itself, with around 60 million English speakers. While nearly the entire population speaks English, the UK’s relatively modest population keeps it below larger English-speaking nations.

5. Philippines

At number five is the Philippines, with 50 million English speakers. American colonisation left a strong linguistic legacy, and English remains one of the country’s official languages. It is widely spoken in schools, government offices, and the outsourcing industry.

Don't miss... The tiny islands 5k miles from the UK where English has ‘evolved’ [LATEST] The pretty little island country where English is the official language [LATEST] One of Britain's most iconic accents 'dying out' [LATEST]

SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

6. Germany

Germany ranks sixth with around 45.8 million English speakers. While German is the official language, English is commonly taught from a young age in schools and is frequently used in business, tourism, and higher education, especially in international settings.

7. Canada

At number seven, Canada is home to some 30 million English speakers. English is one of the country's two official languages, alongside French. While French dominates in Quebec, English is the primary language in most other provinces and plays a key role in national identity, governance, and commerce.

8. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is in eighth place and with 29 million English speakers, uses English extensively in academia, legal affairs, and government institutions. Though Bengali is the national language, English remains vital for higher education and international business.

9. Uganda

In ninth place, Uganda also reports around 29 million English speakers. English serves as the official language, inherited from colonial rule, and is the main language of instruction in schools. It plays a central role in politics, administration, and law.

10. Australia

Rounding out the top 10 is Australia, with approximately 22.2 million English speakers. As the de facto national language, English is deeply ingrained in all aspects of life, from education and media to politics and everyday communication.