How many people speak German worldwide?
Discover where and how many people speak German around the world, as well as the proportion of native speakers and learners.
When I started to take an interest in German, I was surprised by the number of people who speak this language around the world.
German in the World
German is one of the most spoken languages in Europe. It is estimated that there are over 90 million native German speakers. The countries where German is the official language include Germany, of course, but also Austria, part of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and part of Belgium.
- Germany: 83 million speakers
- Austria: 8 million speakers
- Switzerland: 4.5 million speakers
Native vs Learner Proportion
In addition to native speakers, many people are learning German as a foreign language. According to the Goethe-Institut, nearly 15.4 million people around the world are studying German, showing a significant interest in this language.
A Major European Language
German is the most spoken language in the European Union in terms of native speakers. It is also a very influential language in the fields of economy, science, and culture, making it valuable to learn.
Learn German with Discus
The application Discus offers tools to improve your German skills in an interactive and effective way.
Amaury Lavoine
Article written by Amaury Lavoine, founder of Discus. He learns Swahili daily with a Kenyan teacher — it is this practice that guides every product decision.
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