There are 21 Spanish-speaking countries across the globe, along with several others where Spanish is widely spoken, spanning five continents: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Even though these countries share the same language, the way it is spoken differs greatly among the 600 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
Linguistic variations are important for everyday communication, so before you ask for help catching an autobús (bus) or ask for a pajita (straw), you’ll want to become familiar with local terms. For instance, an autobús is called a guagua in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and what you know as pajita is typically referred to as popote in Mexico.
In this guide, you’ll learn how many people speak Spanish in each country according to 2025 data from World Population Review, along with important differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary to prepare you for any conversation—whether you’re traveling throughout the Spanish-speaking world or practicing with a Spanish tutor.
Table of Contents
Spanish-speaking countries in North and Central America
Spanish is a growing global language spoken throughout North and Central America.
Mexico
Capital: Mexico City
Number of Spanish speakers: 127 million
Unique vocabulary: popote (straw), chido (cool), güey (dude)
Topping the chart at 127 million Spanish speakers, Mexico is the quintessential Spanish-speaking nation. Although Spanish isn’t the official national language (Mexico doesn’t have one), it’s by far the most common. Roughly 97% of the population speaks Spanish, with the remaining speaking one of its indigenous languages, such as Nahuatl or Zapotec.
As you make your way south through Central America, you’ll notice the “s” sound at the end of words starting to drop off. But in Mexico, Spanish speakers typically pronounce the “s” at the end of words clearly, which makes vocabulary a little easier for beginners to understand.
In Mexico, you’ll hear many unique vocabulary words for everyday food and objects like ejote (green bean) instead of judía verde and chamarra (jacket) instead of chaqueta. So if you want to learn how to speak Spanish in Mexico, the distinct vocabulary is a great place to start so you can understand the locals!
Guatemala
Capital: Guatemala City
Number of Spanish speakers: 13.8 million
Unique vocabulary: patojo/patoja (child), chilero (cool/awesome), chonguengue (party)
Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, spoken by around 78% of the population. Guatemalan Spanish reflects its Mayan roots, with words that begin with “x” pronounced like “sh” (e.g., “sho-ko-meel” for Xocomil) and distinct indigenous-influenced vocabulary like chumpa (jacket) and burra (bus). When traveling in Guatemala, you may want to familiarize yourself with voseo in Spanish, which refers to the use of vos instead of tú when speaking to friends and family members.
Honduras
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Number of Spanish speakers: 9.6 million
Unique vocabulary: alero (bestie), pijín (party), cheque (OK/alright)
Honduran Spanish, which is also influenced by the Mayans and other indigenous cultures, is spoken by 98% of the population. Due to its proximity and shared indigenous history, Hondurans use much of the same Spanish slang as Guatemalans, like pisto (money) and boquita (snack). Like Guatemalans, Hondurans also frequently use vos instead of tú among friends and family.
One key difference, however, lies in the aspiration of the “s” and “j” sounds. This means the “s” is frequently softened into an “h” sound in various positions, such as at the beginning of words (“hemana” instead of semana) or between vowels (“prehidente” for presidente).
El Salvador
Capital: San Salvador
Number of Spanish speakers: 6.3 million
Unique vocabulary: bicho (kid), chivo (cool), ¡Púchica! (Wow!)
Salvadoran Spanish, spoken by over 99% of the population, is known for its use of voseo as well as caliche, which refers to the unique Salvadoran slang. For instance, amigos (friends) are often referred to as cheros. However, in Spoken Spanish, you might hear this word pronounced like “chero” because the final “s” in words is frequently softened, aspirated to sound like an “h,” or even dropped completely.
Nicaragua
Capital: Managua
Number of Spanish speakers: 6.8 million
Unique vocabulary: nica (Nicaraguan), queque (cake), lampazo (mop)
Out of all the Spanish-speaking countries in Central America, voseo is most prevalent in Nicaragua. You’ll hear vos used instead of tú in most informal situations. You’ll also hear a softened “s” sound, particularly at the end of words, or dropped altogether. For example, ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) may come across as “¿Cómo etá?”
Costa Rica
Capital: San José
Number of Spanish speakers: 5.2 million
Unique vocabulary: mae (dude), pura vida (awesome), chunche (thing)
Over 99% of Costa Ricans are native Spanish speakers, and many prefer to use vos in informal situations. Unlike many other Spanish-speaking countries, Costa Ricans don’t typically roll their “r”s. Ticos also tend to drop the final “d” from words, like “usté” instead of usted (you, formal).
Panama
Capital: Panama City
Number of Spanish speakers: 4.1 million
Unique vocabulary: cocobolo (bald person), ¡Áyala! (Oh no!), buco (a lot)
Although Spanish is Panama’s majority language, with about 92% of the population speaking it, Ngäbere and other indigenous languages are also spoken. Mola (mola blouse), tamarindo (tamarind), and raspao (shaved ice) are a few words that have been adopted into Panamanian Spanish from the region’s indigenous languages.
In some regions, Panamanians pronounce “ch” like “sh.” So, the word hecho (done/made) is pronounced like “eh-shoh.”
Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean
How many Spanish-speaking countries are there in the Caribbean? This area is home to several nations where Spanish is the official language, alongside territories with significant Spanish-speaking communities.
Cuba
Capital: Havana
Number of Spanish speakers: 11.2 million
Unique vocabulary: yuma (foreigner), gao (house), ¿Qué bolá? (What’s up?)
Nearly 100% of Cuba’s population are native Spanish speakers, and Taíno, the indigenous Arawakan language, has influenced a portion of their vocabulary. Some words adopted into Spanish from Taíno include hamaca (hammock), guayaba (guava), and huracán (hurricane).
In addition to distinct Cuban slang like jama (food/meal) and asere (friend), grammatical and pronunciation aspects make Cuban Spanish unique, such as the usage of a redundant subject pronoun. If you’ve ever taken a Spanish class, you may have learned that you don’t need to include the Spanish subject pronoun if it’s implied by the verb conjugation. However, in Cuban Spanish, the subject pronoun is frequently used even if it’s redundant. Cubans also tend to drop the “d” sound between vowels, especially in words ending in “-ado,” making aficionado (fan) sound like “aficionao.”
Dominican Republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Number of Spanish speakers: 10.4 million
Unique vocabulary: pana (friend), concho (taxi), ¿Qué lo que? (What’s up?)
With nearly 98% of the population speaking Spanish, you’ll quickly realize that to keep up in the Dominican Republic, you’ll need to adjust to the speed of talking. Dominican Spanish is notoriously fast, and not only that, but they often drop final vowel sounds (not just the “s”) and frequently substitute an “l” sound for “r.”
Puerto Rico
Capital: San Juan
Number of Spanish speakers: 3.2 million
Unique vocabulary: chavos (money), boricua (Puerto Rican), guagua (bus)
Although Puerto Rico is included in this list of the world’s 21 official Spanish-speaking countries, it’s important to remember it’s not its own country but a territory of the US, with over 99% of the population being native Spanish speakers.
Puerto Rican Spanish is a unique dialect that can be particularly challenging to understand due to its many dropped letters and frequent use of contractions. While other Spanish-speaking groups may drop a final “s” or “d,” Puerto Ricans go a step further, even dropping letters at the start of words in addition to the end! This significantly alters the sound of words. For example, estás (you are) may often sound like “eta’.”
Spanish-speaking countries in South America
There are 12 Spanish-speaking countries in South America, each with unique dialects and characteristics of the language.
Colombia
Capital: Bogotá
Number of Spanish speakers: 51.7 million
Unique vocabulary: camello (work), chécheres (stuff), guaro (drink)
Often referred to as the “easiest” Spanish dialect, Colombian Spanish is known for its clear pronunciation. However, if you’re planning a trip to one of its world-class destinations, there are some unique aspects to be aware of when speaking with the over 99% of the population who are native Spanish speakers. For example, the “y” sound can often be pronounced more like a “j” rather than the “ll” sound.
Additionally, in terms of tú vs.usted in Spanish, usted reigns supreme in Colombia. Tú is used infrequently, even in more informal situations.
Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
Number of Spanish speakers: 45.8 million
Unique vocabulary: che (hey), bondi (bus), posta (facts)
In Argentina, 98% of the population speaks Spanish, and roughly 70% speak Rioplatense Spanish, a dialect distinct from other Latin American regions. When traveling in Argentina, you’ll hear familiar words like calle (street) and lluvia (rain) pronounced with a “sh” sound. For example, calle sounds more like “cashe.” You’ll also encounter Lunfardo, a unique array of slang words in Argentinian Spanish that blend Italian, Spanish, and other influences.
Argentinians almost exclusively use vos as the informal singular “you” pronoun. The pronoun tú is virtually non-existent.
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Peru
Capital: Lima
Number of Spanish speakers: 29.2 million
Unique vocabulary: lechero (lucky), chela (beer), chamba (job)
Around 87% of the Peruvian population speaks Spanish. The majority of the remaining percentage speak Quechua, an indigenous language of the Inca Empire, which is also an official language. You’re most likely to hear Quechua terms in the Andes, the region with the highest number of Quechua speakers. Many Quechua terms, such as cancha (field), llama (llama), and papa (potato), have become important everyday vocabulary in Peruvian Spanish.
Venezuela
Capital: Caracas
Number of Spanish speakers: 32.8 million
Unique vocabulary: cotúfas (popcorn), cambur (banana), chamo (kid)
Venezuela shares a border with Colombia, so it’s no surprise that Venezuelan Spanish shares similar characteristics with Colombian Spanish, like omitting the “d” and “s” sounds at the end of words. However, the 97% of the Venezuelan population that speaks Spanish tends to speak a little faster than their neighbors.
Chile
Capital: Santiago
Number of Spanish speakers: 19.1 million
Unique vocabulary: fome (boring), pololo/polola (boyfriend/girlfriend), ¿Cachai? (Do you understand?)
Around 96% of Chileans are native Spanish speakers, and most do not call their own country “Chile” but rather pronounce it as “Shile.” In addition to this “ch” to “sh “ sound replacement, Chileans also tend to omit the final letter of words.
Perhaps what makes Chilean Spanish most unique, however, is its vocabulary. When you’re speaking with a Chilean, you may occasionally feel they are not speaking Spanish at all because they use many distinct slang terms and local expressions that aren’t common elsewhere in the Spanish-speaking world.
Ecuador
Capital: Quito
Number of Spanish speakers: 15.3 million
Unique vocabulary: chiro (broke), ¡De ley! (Of course!), ¿La plena? (Seriously?)
Nearly 96% of Ecuadorians are native Spanish speakers, and how they speak Spanish varies significantly based on the region. Andean Spanish is often slower and clearer, with some Quechua influence in vocabulary, such as guambra (child), mucha (kiss) and guagua (baby).
Coastal Spanish, on the other hand, shares some characteristics with Caribbean dialects, like the aspiration of the “s” sound.
Bolivia
Capitals: Sucre and La Paz
Number of Spanish speakers: 10.1 million
Unique vocabulary: camote (crazy in love), canguro (hoodie), ch’iqui (small)
While Bolivia officially recognizes 37 languages, Spanish is the primary language, spoken by 84% of its population. Because there are so many other languages, Bolivian Spanish has borrowed a lot of words from them! So, be ready to hear new words for everyday items like choclo (corn) and chompa (sweater).
You may also hear vos depending on what region you’re visiting.
Paraguay
Capital: Asunción
Number of Spanish speakers: 5.2 million
Unique vocabulary: tranquilopa (don’t worry), haku (hot weather), ¡Purete! (No problem!)
If you’re planning a trip to Paraguay, you may not only want to study up on your Spanish but also Guaraní. More Paraguayans speak Guaraní than Spanish in everyday situations, so don’t be surprised if you’re greeted with mba’éichapa (hello) instead of hola. Most Paraguayans speak Jopara, a unique dialectal blend of Guaraní and Spanish that is difficult to understand if you don’t know both languages.
Like its neighbor Argentina, Paraguay also favors vos over tú.
Uruguay
Capital: Montevideo
Number of Spanish speakers: 3.4 million
Unique vocabulary: da (OK), ¡Bo! (Hey!), bondi (bus)
Uruguayan Spanish is very similar to Argentinian Spanish in its preference for vos and its pronunciation of “ll” like “sh.” There are a few differences in vocabulary between the countries, like pop (popcorn) in Uruguay compared to pochoclos in Argentina.
Spanish-speaking countries in Europe and Africa
Furthering its status as a global language, Spanish is spoken by millions in Europe and Africa.
Spain
Capital: Madrid
Number of Spanish speakers: 43.5 million
Unique vocabulary: vale (okay), guay (cool), molar (to like)
Around 90% of Spain’s population are native Spanish speakers, and you can expect to hear many differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
In Latin America, the pronunciation of “z” and “c” (before “e” or “i”) sounds like an “s” in English. In Spain, however, these letters sound more like the “th” sound in English. For example, gracias (thank you) sounds like “grathias.”
Spaniards predominantly use vosotros, an informal plural subject pronoun in Spanish used for addressing a group of people, equivalent to ‘you all’ or ‘y’all.’ For example, to ask ‘Where are you all going?’ Spaniards would typically say ¿Adónde vais (vosotros)? instead of ¿Adónde van (ustedes)?
In Spain, you’ll also hear different vocabulary for everyday items like coche (car) instead of carro, zumo (juice) instead of jugo, and móvil (cell phone) instead of cellular.
Equatorial Guinea
Capital: Malabo
Number of Spanish speakers: 1.3 million
Unique vocabulary: la tori (the news), ¿Ustin? (What?), la tosa (girl)
Out of all the countries that speak Spanish officially, Equatorial Guinea is the smallest. It is the only official Spanish-speaking country in Africa, but Spanish is also spoken in Morocco, Algeria, and other African regions.
If you have the chance to chat with someone from Equatorial Guinea in Spanish, you might notice some interesting quirks, like using the Spanish preposition a (to) interchangeably with en (in). Perhaps even more strikingly, you may hear usted used with verbs conjugated in the tú form.
Countries with significant Spanish-speaking populations
When considering the global reach of Spanish, one of the world’s most widely spoken Romance languages, it’s important to look beyond the official Spanish-speaking countries. You can’t accurately answer “How many people speak Spanish?” without taking into account nations and territories where significant populations communicate in Spanish, even if it isn’t their official language.
| Country/Territory | Number of Spanish Speakers |
| United States | 41.3 million |
| Philippines | 689,000 |
| Curaçao | 185,200 |
| Belize | 165,300 |
| Aruba | 100,000 |
| Andorra | 40,000 |
| Gibraltar | 25,500 |
Communicate in all Spanish-speaking countries with Rosetta Stone
There are 21 official Spanish-speaking countries worldwide. Depending on your language goals, you may want to learn how to speak Spanish in every country or focus on one specific Spanish dialect. Either way, Rosetta Stone provides the opportunity for you to listen to native speakers from different countries, so you can get a real-time understanding of their pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary as they discuss topics of cultural relevance.
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