The United States Is Now the World’s Second Largest Spanish-Speaking Country
For the first time, the number of Spanish speakers has surpassed 600 million people worldwide.
The United States has seen its Latino population grow steadily for decades. While the number of people with Mexican heritage has slowed down, groups like Dominicans, Guatemalans, and Venezuelans are growing the fastest. With this information, it’s no surprise that Spanish has become a dominant language in the United States and is now the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
A Growing Spanish-Speaking Population
Over 60 million Spanish speakers now live in the U.S. which is more than the populations of Colombia, Spain, or Argentina. The only country with more Spanish speakers is Mexico.
This information comes from a 2024 study, Spanish: A Living Language, led by Professor David Fernández from the University of Alcalá and published by the Instituto Cervantes. It highlights how Spanish is thriving in the United States with many speakers now being American-born rather than recent immigrants.
Spanish is on the rise globally, even surpassing French in popularity in Europe and is now the second-most studied foreign language worldwide.
Latinos Are Transforming the U.S.
Latinos have become a key driver of population growth in the United States. Between 2022 and 2023, Latino families accounted for 70% of the country’s population increase mostly due to high birth rates. This shift reflects a long-standing trend – the U.S. is becoming less white and more Latino and Asian American.
What’s Ahead for the Latino Population?
By 2060, Latinos are expected to make up 26.9% of the U.S. population, while the non-Latino white population is projected to drop to 44.9%. Combined with growth in other minority groups, this means the U.S. will likely become a majority-minority country within the next 40 years.
As the Latino population grows, so will the number of Spanish speakers, strengthening the country’s growing Spanish-speaking community. This cultural shift isn’t just a statistic—it’s a celebration of growth, resilience, and the increasing diversity of the U.S.
Read the 2024 Report of Spanish: A Living Language.
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