|
Est. Number of Speakers
|
|
Language
|
|
Official In...
|
|
1,500,000,000
|
|
English
|
|
Guyana, United Kingdom (Falkland Islands)
|
|
558,000,000
|
|
Spanish
|
|
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
|
|
312,000,000
|
|
French
|
|
France (French Guiana)
|
|
267,000,000
|
|
Portuguese
|
|
Brazil
|
|
134,000,000
|
|
German
|
|
Brazil (region-specific)
|
|
23,500,000
|
|
Dutch
|
|
Suriname
|
|
8,420,000
|
|
Quechua
|
|
Bolivia, Ecuador (region-specific) , Peru (region-specific)
|
|
3,100,000
|
|
Guaraní
|
|
Bolivia, Paraguay
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
Hunsrik
|
|
Brazil (regional)
|
|
2,520,000
|
|
Aymara
|
|
Bolivia, Peru (region-specific)
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
Talian
|
|
Brazil (region-specific)
|
|
416,000
|
|
Wayuu
|
|
Colombia (region-specific) , Venezuela (region-specific
|
|
300,000
|
|
Pomeranian
|
|
Brazil (region-specific)
|
|
250,000
|
|
Mapudungun
|
|
Chile (region-specific)
|
|
75,000
|
|
Emberá
|
|
Colombia (region-specific)
|
|
60,000
|
|
Paéz
|
|
Colombia (region-specific)
|
|
42,000
|
|
Wichí Lhamtés
|
|
Argentina (region-specific) , Bolivia (region-specific)
|
|
42,000
|
|
Shuar
|
|
Ecuador (region-specific)
|
|
32,000
|
|
Warao
|
|
Venezuela (region-specific)
|
|
30,000
|
|
Toba
|
|
Argentina (region-specific)
|
|
23,000
|
|
Pémon
|
|
Venezuela (region-specific)
|
|
23,000
|
|
Guahibo
|
|
Colombia (region-specific)
|
|
21,000
|
|
Guambiano
|
|
Colombia (region-specific)
|
|
13,000
|
|
Piaroa
|
|
Venezuela (region-specific)
|
|
12,000
|
|
Yanomamö
|
|
Venezuela (region-specific)
|
|
12,000
|
|
Awa-Cuaiquer
|
|
Colombia (region-specific)
|
|
The humber of speakers by language is not only specific to South America
Important: Some languages are official in specific provinces or subdivisions, not entire countries
Sources:
Major Languages' speakers count: this Wikipedia webpage
Official languages of each country: this Wikipedia webpage
Aymara, Guaraní and Quechua speaker count: various searches via worlddata.info
Lesser-spoken languages' speaker count: various searches via World Population Review