Duolingo Releases 2022 Global Language Report
30th January 2023
Duolingo released its third Global Language Report at the end of 2022, giving insights into patterns and habits of language learning around the world. The report investigates which countries study which languages, how interest in learning different languages has changed over time and how learner behaviour varies around the world.
The data is based on data from Duolingo’s 500 million users and their learning activity between October 2021 and September 2022.
The 2022 Duolingo Language Report reveals the ways in which learners embraced the return of pre-pandemic schedules and habits and how their approach to language learning has evolved.
Top findings from the report:
1. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, more than 1.3 million people around the world began studying Ukrainian in a show of solidarity. This trend picked in late March and remained consistent for the rest of the year. Countries receiving the largest number of Ukrainian refugees saw the highest growth in people studying the Ukrainian language: 1651% YOY growth in Germany, 1615% in Poland and 1515% in the Czech Republic.
German’s unity with Ukraine and learning the Ukrainian language meant it moved from the 36th position of the most popular language to learn in Germany in 2021 (out of 40 available languages) to the 15th position in 2022. A similar jump was seen in the UK, from 37th in 2021 to 17th in 2022.
2. On the flip side, Ukrainians were learning the languages of the countries they found refuge in. German became the 2nd most popular language to learn in Germany in 2022.
3. A record number of Ukrainians took the Duolingo English Test (DET) to enable them to study internationally. Ukrainian test takers increased 4000% year-over-year.
4. English remained the most popular language to study worldwide. English is the top language to study in 131 countries and it’s second-most popular in an additional nine countries. The ability to speak English is often connected to a better career and educational opportunities.
5. Spanish and French were the next most popular languages to study, but we’ve seen a change in language interest. In 2021 Spanish was the most popular language to study in 90 countries. This number dropped to 81 in 2022 while the member of countries learning French has increased from 90 countries last year to 96 in 2022.
6. The school continues to be the main motivator for studying English, Spanish and French in South Africa and parts of Asia, including India and Vietnam.
7. Irish Gaelic has lost the top spot in Ireland and now ranks in position two behind Spanish.
8. German was the 4th most studied language worldwide.
9. Korean has gained more popularity and became the most popular language to study in four countries in 2022 (vs. 2 in 2021). Korean is one of the fastest-growing languages in Argentina, Germany and India and a popular language to study in China, Japan and Vietnam.
10. Travellers are not studying a second language to use abroad. The number of learners studying a foreign language to travel decreased YOY. Travel was a tricky subject in 2022 with increasing prices and record flight cancellations. Although travel increased in 2022, it hasn’t quite reached results on 2019 levels.
11. In 2022, the countries with the most serious learners were (in order): Japan, Belarus, Hungary, Russia and Czechia. These countries had the highest average time spent learning across all learners.
12. Several countries have seen growth in people studying the language of their country.
- French has become the most popular language to study in Mauritius, after knocking Spanish down to number 2.
- German is now the second most popular language to study in Austria, Germany and Lichtenstein, displacing Spanish.
- Hebrew is the 2nd language studied in Israel, pushing ahead of Spanish.
- Italian is #2 in Italy and San Marino, ousting Spanish.
- Spanish is #2 in Costa Rica and Spain, replacing French.
- Swahili is #2 in Uganda, displacing Spanish.
13. The countries where the most learners study three or more languages on Duolingo are Finland (#1) and the U.K. (#2). With 93% of adults in Finland speaking more than one language, this doesn’t come as a surprise. The UK is a country with a wide linguistic and cultural diversity. 15% of the U.K. population was born outside the U.K., the U.K. is home to many indigenous languages, including the Celtic languages Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Irish Gaelic and a popular destination for language exchange students.
14. Top 10 languages studied around the world (in order): English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Russian and Hindi. In 2021, Hindi was ranked 11, just behind Portuguese at 10 and this year it overtaken Portuguese for the #10 spot globally.
For more language trends, see the full report here: https://blog.duolingo.com/2022-duolingo-language-report/
