English is one of the most widely spoken languages on Earth . Whether it’s someone’s first language or a second language, English is used every day by people around the world to communicate across borders, study, travel and do business. While no single language is spoken everywhere, English has become today’s closest thing to a global lingua franca.

But just how many people speak English? And where do most English speakers live? Here’s a look at the latest global statistics, followed by a regional breakdown of where English is spoken and how the language became so widespread.

How Many English Speakers Are There Worldwide?

Around 1.35 billion people speak English worldwide , making it the most widely spoken language when native and non-native speakers are counted together. Only about 360 million people speak English as their first language, while nearly one billion others use it as a second or foreign language.

That means roughly one in six people around the globe can speak at least some English.…