Country Eligible population Total English speakers Total English speakers (%) As first language As first language (%) As an additional language As an additional language (%) Comments United States 296,603,003 283,160,411 95.5 234,171,556 79.0 48,988,855 16.5 Figures are from the 2011 - 2015 American Community Survey 5 - year estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau for persons age 5 and older. Total English speakers are those who either spoke English at home (i.e. as first language), or reported speaking another language at home but could speak English "very well '' or "well '' (i.e. as an additional language). India 1,028,737,436 125,344,736 12.18 226,449 0.02 125,118,287 12.16 2001 Census figures for population and first, second, and third languages. English as a first language is only spoken by 226,449 people, as a second language by 86,125,221, and as a third language by 38,993,066. Pakistan 188,400,100 108,036,049 57 15,720,000 8 92,316,049 49 Official Language, lingua franca and spoken amongst a wide proportion of the Pakistani Population - 49 % as a second language (other estimates). Nigeria 156,493,000 79,000,000 53.34 79,000,000 53.34 Euromonitor International report (2009) Philippines 100,437,852 64,025,890 63.72 36,935 0.0037 63,988,955 63.71 Total population: Census 2010. Proportion of total speakers: Census 2000, text above Figure 7. 63.71 % of the then 66.7 million people aged 5 years or more could speak English. Proportion of native speakers: Census 1995, as quoted by Andrew Gonzalez in "The Language Planning Situation in the Philippines '', Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 19 (5&6), 487 -- 525, p. 492:. 04 % of the then 68.4 million people were native speakers of English. (1998). "Six out of 10 people aged 5 and over can speak english (63.71 %). '' United Kingdom 64,000,000 59,600,000 97.74 54,400,000 92.14 5,128,000 5.60 Source: Data from the 2011 census for England and Wales. Additional English speaker figures are for usual residents aged 3 years and over with a main language other than English who can speak English "very well '' or "well ''. Germany 80,600,000 46,272,504 70 272,504 0.338 46,000,000 70 Native speakers: Statistisches Bundesamt (cited here). Non-native speakers: Eurobarometer report 2006 Does not include foreign military personnel based in Germany. Canada 33,121,175 28,360,240 85.63 18,858,980 56.94 9,501,260 28.69 Source: (3), Population by knowledge of official languages and Population by mother tongue. The 2011 count reported that 22,564,665 people were able to conduct a conversation in English but not French, while 5,795,575 were able to converse in both English and French. The census also asked for the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual: 18,858,980 reported English as their sole mother tongue, 144,685 reported both English and French as mother tongues, 396,330 reported English and a non-official language as mother tongues, and 24,095 reported English, French and a non-official language as mother tongues. France 65,350,000 23,000,000 39 23,000,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Australia 21,394,309 17,357,833 97 15,013,965 70.17 2,343,868 17 Source: 2001 Census. The 2001 census data is subject to multiple interpretations. The data noted that 18,972,350 persons out of 21,394,309 total were speakers of a language, and excluded young children. However, more than a million of those 18,972,350 persons provided no information; 879,778 did not give information on proficiency, and 203,101 were "overseas visitors '' who were not asked. Of the 17,889,671 persons for whom an inquiry was made 17,357,833 spoke English only, or "well '' or "very well '' as a second language; while 531,838 spoke "not well '' or "not at all ''. Italy 59,619,290 17,000,000 34 17,000,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Bangladesh 163,323,100 30,108,031 18 709,873 29,398,158 Source: Euromonitor International report 2009, Euromonitor Dec 2010 Egypt 83,289,500 28,101,325 35 28,101,325 Source: Euromonitor International Report 2011 Thailand 63,038,247 17,121,187 27.16 17,121,187 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Netherlands 16,770,000 15,030,000 90 15,030,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Nepal 29,890,686 13,896,720 46.49 20,000 0.067 876,720 Source: Census. (date not verified) South Africa 52,981,991 16,424,417 31 4,930,510 9.3 11,493,907 22 Native speakers from 2011 Census: Census in Brief, page 23. Non-native speakers: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Poland 38,501,000 14,300,000 37 100,000 14,200,000 Source: Central Statistical Office, Additional language speakers are people age 18 -- 69, who reported English Language as their first of second best foreign language, Central Statistical Office Native language counted as those who speak English at home. Turkey 70,586,256 12,000,000 17 12,000,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2006 Iraq 31,700,000 11,095,000 35 11,000,000 Source: Euromonitor International report (2011) Sri Lanka 22,480,000 10,565,600 47 37,061 0.2 9,680,000 47 English Proficiency Index Spain 47,190,000 10,400,000 22 10,400,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 China 1,210,000,000 10,000,000 < 1 10,000,000 Figures are for English users in mainland China only (i.e. excluding Hong Kong where English is an official language and Macau). The often - cited figure of 300 million is for "learners. '' Brazil 205,000,000 10,542,000 5 292,000 0.14 10,250,000 5 Source: British council (2012) and EF. Only 5 % of Brazilians have a proficient grasp of English as a second or foreign additional language and an additional 6 % have a very rudimentary knowledge. Brazil has 240 thousand British descendants and 180 thousand American ancestry citizens including the Confederados cultural sub-group, descendants of the Confederate colonies. Sweden 9,921,541 8,200,000 86 8,200,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Kenya 43,013,431 8,100,000 18.83 7,900,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Cameroon 19,740,000 7,500,000 38 7,500,000 Euromonitor International Report (2009) Malaysia 27,170,000 15,580,000 62.57 380,000 1.4 15,200,000 61.1 EF English Proficiency Index Russia 138,312,535 7,574,303 5.48 2,522 7,571,787 Source: Composition by Nationality and Language Ability, Citizenship, Tables 4.5 and 4.1, Russian Census (2010). The "total '' figure is the number of residents who reported English as one of the languages they knew. The "first language '' figure is the number of residents who reported "American '' or "English '' as their nationality. The "additional languages '' figure is the difference. More than 9 million schoolgoers studied English as a foreign language in 2008 -- 2009. Belgium 10,584,534 6,250,000 60 6,250,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2006 (the 2012 report seems to have a critical typo) Israel 7,303,000 6,205,000 84.97 100,000 1.37 6,105,000 Source: Ethnologue (2005) English is widely spoken, both by the Jewish majority and by minority ethnic groups. Austria 8,415,000 6,150,000 73 6,150,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Romania 19,043,767 5,900,000 31 5,900,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Zimbabwe 13,349,000 5,550,000 41.58 250,000 1.87 5,300,000 Crystal (2003), p. 109. Greece 10,787,690 5,500,000 51 5,500,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Sierra Leone 5,866,000 4,900,000 83.53 500,000 8.52 4,400,000 Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Mexico 120,664,000 15,686,262 12.9 15,686,262 Consulta Mitofsky - Tracking Poll Roy Campos: Las Lenguas Extranjeras en México, January 2013; and II Conteo de Población y Vivienda, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI). Denmark 5,543,000 4,770,000 86 4,770,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Switzerland 7,637,300 4,680,000 61.28 73,400 0.96 4,606,600 Figure for speakers of English as "main language '', according to Federal Statistical Office, Neuchâtel 2008 Source for number of non-native English speakers is 1999 publication by Prof. François Grin cited here: http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/countries/uk/language.html Morocco 32,770,900 4,587,926 14 4,587,926 Source: Euromonitor International report 2011 Norway 5,136,700 4,500,000 90 4,500,000 Source: http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/03/norwegian-english-fusion-language/ Republic of Ireland 4,422,100 4,350,000 98.37 4,122,100 93.21 237,900 Source: Eurobarometer report 2006; Central Statistics Office (4); Travbla Singapore 5,607,300 4,218,737 83.1 1,873,302 36.9 2,345,435 Source: 2015 Census. Second language speaker figure only includes those literate in English aged 15 or more and does not include third language proficiency. General Household Survey 2015 "Language Spoken at Home Among Residents Aged 5 Years and Over '' Ghana 27,000,000 18,000,000 66.67 18,000,000 Source: 2010 Ghanaian Census Tanzania 40,454,000 4,000,000 9.89 4,000,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. New Zealand 4,275,100 3,673,623 97.82 3,673,623 85.93 There were 4,027,947 responses to 2006 Census: Language spoken. 3,673,679 gave English as a response, 81,936 had no English but another language. The balance of 272,382 were; no language (too young) 75,195, no response 196,221, response unidentifiable 588, response outside scope 378. Hence it is most meaningful to express the English - speaking per cent without including the figures for these 272,382. This gives 97.8 % English - speaking, 2.2 % non-English - speaking (3,673,679 and 81,936 divided by 3,755,565) Crystal (2003), p. 109, gives figures of 3,700,000 native speakers and 150,000 second language speakers. Finland 5,410,000 3,800,000 70 3,800,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Portugal 10,623,000 2,900,000 27 2,900,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Papua New Guinea 6,331,000 3,150,000 49.76 150,000 2.37 3,000,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Liberia 3,750,000 3,100,000 82.67 600,000 16 2,500,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Jordan 6,598,000 2,969,370 45 2,969,370 Source: Euromonitor International report (2011) Jamaica 2,714,000 2,650,000 97.64 45,900 17.1 50,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Algeria 35,954,000 2,516,780 7 2,516,780 Source: Euromonitor International report (2011) Uganda 30,884,000 2,500,000 8.09 2,500,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Hong Kong 6,808,433 3,136,784 46.07 238,288 3.5 2,898,496 According to 2011 population census, Hong Kong has approximately 3.1 million speakers, of whom 238,288 regard English as their "usual '' language. Czechia 10,562,214 2,850,000 27 2,850,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Argentina 42,192,500 2,752,681 6.52 Source:. Percentage of people who state to have a high level of English. Another 19.49 % and 16.23 % of people said they had an intermediate and low level, respectively, of English. Yemen 24,800,000 2,232,000 9 2,232,000 Source: Euromonitor International report 2011 Croatia 4,555,000 2,200,000 49 2,200,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2006 Colombia 47,661,368 2,012,950 4.22 75,600 1,937,350 Total was estimated by multiplying projected population for 2014 (DANE) by percentage of Colombian population that speaks English 4.09 % then 63,600 was added to that figure which is the total of American and British residents. Figures for native speakers are as follows: 60,000 U.S. citizens that reside in Colombia 12,000 are Colombian Raizal from San Andrés and Isla de Providencia where they speak San Andrés -- Providencia Creole 3,600 British expatriates Hungary 9,982,000 2,000,000 20 2,000,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Puerto Rico 3,991,000 1,940,000 48.61 100,000 1,840,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Zambia 11,922,000 1,910,000 16.02 110,000 1,800,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Bulgaria 7,640,238 1,900,000 25 2,605 1,902,605 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 and 2011 Census Kazakhstan 12,156,705 1,874,583 15.4 602 1,873,981 Number of those who understand spoken English, from these 1.9 million: 311,435 (2.6 % / 16.6 %) can only read, 931,444 (7.7 % / 49.6 %) can read and write in English. The number of native speakers is the sum of Americans and Englishmen "by nationality ''. (Census 2009) Lebanon 4,265,600 1,706,000 40 1,706,000 Source: Euromonitor International report (2011) Chile 16,634,603 1,585,027 9.53 Source: 2012 Census. Rwanda 10,137,400 1,520,610 15 1,520,610 Source: Euromonitor International report 2009 Slovakia 5,397,036 1,400,000 26 1,400,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Trinidad and Tobago 1,305,000 1,145,000 87.74 1,145,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Slovenia 2,050,000 1,210,000 59 1,210,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Lithuania 3,053,800 1,160,000 38 1,160,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Latvia 2,070,371 950,000 46 950,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Guyana 751,000 680,000 90.55 650,000 30,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Botswana 1,639,833 630,000 38.42 630,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Estonia 1,294,236 650,000 50 650,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Cyprus 839,000 610,000 73 610,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Malawi 13,931,831 540,209 3.88 209 540,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109 and Kayambizinthu. Lesotho 1,795,000 500,000 27.86 500,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Suriname 470,784 410,000 87.09 260,000 150,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Malta 453,000 400,000 89 unknown 352,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Namibia 1,820,916 314,000 17.24 14,000 300,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Luxembourg 509,000 290,000 56 290,000 Source: Eurobarometer report 2012 Bahamas 330,549 288,000 87.13 260,000 28,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Barbados 279,000 275,000 98.57 262,000 13,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Belize 301,270 246,000 81.65 190,000 56,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Madagascar 23,042,300 4,147,614 18 4,147,614 The main languages are French and Malagasy. Mauritius 1,264,866 202,000 15.97 2,000 200,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Vanuatu 215,446 180,000 83.55 60,000 120,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Fiji 853,445 176,000 20.62 6,000 170,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Solomon Islands 552,438 175,000 31.68 10,000 165,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Guam 173,456 158,000 91.09 58,000 100,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Brunei 381,371 144,000 39.07 10,000 134,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 120,000 114,000 95 114,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. U.S. Virgin Islands 108,448 113,000 95.97 98,000 15,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Grenada 110,000 100,000 90.91 100,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Samoa 188,540 94,000 49.86 1,000 93,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Isle of Man 80,058 80,000 99.93 80,000 Myanmar 53,900,000 2,400,000 4.45 2,400,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Saint Lucia 165,000 71,000 43.03 31,000 40,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Northern Mariana Islands 84,000 70,000 83.33 5,000 65,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Antigua and Barbuda 85,000 68,000 80 66,000 2,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. American Samoa 57,345 45,933 80.1 1,791 44,142 Source: The World Factbook -- American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia 111,000 64,000 57.66 4,000 60,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Bermuda 65,000 63,000 96.92 63,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Dominica 67,000 63,000 94.03 3,000 60,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Marshall Islands 59,000 60,000 98.33 60,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Swaziland 1,141,000 50,000 4.38 50,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Aruba 104,000 44,000 42.31 9,000 35,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. The Gambia 1,709,000 40,000 2.34 40,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Saint Kitts and Nevis 50,000 39,000 78 39,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Cayman Islands 47,000 36,000 76.6 36,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Seychelles 87,000 33,000 37.93 3,000 30,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Gibraltar 28,875 28,875 100 28,000 875 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Tonga 100,000 30,000 30 30,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Kiribati 95,000 23,000 24.21 23,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. British Virgin Islands 23,000 20,000 86.96 20,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. Palau 20,000 18,500 92.5 500 18,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Andorra 81,222 17,869 22 17,869 Source Census: Linguistic knowledge 2004. Anguilla 13,000 12,000 92.31 12,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Nauru 10,300 800 96.26 9,500 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. English is spoken as the language of government and commerce. Cook Islands 20,200 4,000 19.8 1,000 3,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Montserrat 5,900 4,000 67.8 4,000 Source: Crystal (2003), p. 109. Note this includes speakers of an English creole. TOTAL 5,102,585,737 1,179,874,130 336,358,172 838,676,510
what country has the largest english speaking population
United States