Top Five Multilingual Countries

Languages are an essential means of expressing complex emotions and concepts without worries of miscommunication. Each language has its own nuance, vernacular, and dialects. Asia is the largest continent on Earth and has the most languages in the world, 2,300 in total. In the Pacific region, there are 1,313 languages, and in America, 1,061. Europe ranks the least diverse in languages, with only 287 languages.

Some of the countries with the highest-ranking multi-lingual population include:

1.    Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is a country situated in the northwest pacific. It’s famous for its diversity and various cultures. The country’s scenic beaches and coral reefs bring in tourists from all over the world. The thick, laid-out forests are a sight to behold. Visiting this country would be an experience of a lifetime, and the tribal cultures and languages make it a unique experience.

It rates the first country in this list because of its hundreds of languages. The country’s people speak an impressive 840 languages, double that of Europe. Every one million of the country’s inhabitants speak nearly 94 languages. Few of those languages are Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, Melpa, Kuman, and English.

2.    Indonesia

Indonesia is a country in Asia situated between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It has a count of nearly 17,000 islands; Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi, to name a few. Indonesia is most known for its scenic tourist spots, such as Bali.

While its official language is Bahasa Indonesian, the population speaks more than 700 languages throughout the country; Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, etc. It’s the second most linguistically diverse country in the world.

3.    Nigeria

Nigeria is a West African country located near the Gulf of Guinea. It’s the most famous black nation, and its people are well-known for their friendly and lively attitude. Nigeria is famous for its wilderness and wildlife reserves. It’s a gorgeous country with streaming waterfalls, dense forests, and green planes.

Nigeria is also the third most linguistically dense country on the list. While their primary languages are English, Hausa, and Yoruba, there are 522 languages being spoken all across the country, ranking it in the top three multi-lingual countries.

4.    India

India is a country in South Asia. It’s the second largest country and simultaneously the second most populated country in the area. Their most famous landmark is Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Taj Mahal, Red Fort, etc. The country’s vibrant culture and beautiful sights make it a popular tourist destination.

While the national language is Hindi, the population speaks a slew of other different languages. A few examples of their languages would be; Nepalese, Tamil, Maithili, Gujarati, etc.

5.    United States

The U.S is a country situated in North America. With over 50 states, It’s the fifth most linguistically diverse country on this list. It’s a global financial and commercial center. It is famous for its various landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Mount Rushmore, and many more.

There are 350 to 450 languages spoken in the United States. While its primary language is English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese are spoken just as frequently, making the country multi-lingual.

Final Thoughts

There are many languages spoken all over the world, but many are now endangered, such as Yiddish, Gondi, Chulym, and Dunser. Learning languages and becoming multi-lingual is a much-appreciated trend nowadays, as it gives some dying languages a chance to become prominent once more. In this list, the vastly multi-lingual countries mentioned further the cause with the hundreds of languages spoken by the population.

If you or your company are in need of translation services into any of these languages or others, feel free to contact us and we will get back to you within the hour with a quote.