The most influential languages of the world

Just 15 of the 6,000 languages account for half of the speakers in the world

There are more than 6,000 languages spoken in the world today, but some 2,000 of them count fewer than a thousand speakers. Moreover,  just 15 of them account for half of the speakers in the world. 

The Power Language Index (PLI) systematically evaluates the influence and reach of languages using 20 indicators to measure 5 basic opportunities afforded by language: Geography, economy, communication, knowledge & media, and diplomacy. Here are the key findings of the index: