Portuguese is spoken by more than 260 million people worldwide, a global language with strong presence across several continents and rapidly growing numbers of speakers and internet users.
Speakers and global rank
When counting native and second‑language speakers combined, Portuguese commonly ranks among the world’s most spoken languages, typically placed around eighth globally in recent summaries of language use and population data.
Geographic distribution
Portuguese is the official language of nine countries and is used in multiple territories, linking communities across Europe, South America, Africa and Asia as part of the Lusophone world and formal networks such as the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
Countries and continents
The language is official in nations including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea‑Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and others, giving it an institutional footprint on four continents and sustained demographic growth in key regions.
Cultural and economic impact
Beyond raw speaker numbers, Portuguese has considerable cultural reach through literature, music and media and significant economic influence driven largely by Brazil’s markets; its expanding digital presence and educational exchanges continue to raise the language’s international profile and utility for diplomacy, trade and cultural exchange.
Quick related facts
- Speakers: >260 million worldwide.
- Global rank: commonly around 8th most spoken language.
- Official in: 9 countries across 4 continents.