There are currently 7,159 known living languages in the world as of 2025, according to Ethnologue, the most comprehensive language database available. This number reflects the immense linguistic diversity on Earth but is declining due to language endangerment and extinction.
Language Diversity
- The richest linguistic diversity is found in Asia with about 2,300 languages, followed by Africa with around 2,144 languages.
- Papua New Guinea alone holds over 830 different languages, making it one of the most linguistically dense regions.
Language Endangerment
- About 44% of all languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers and face a high risk of extinction.
- Without preservation efforts, up to 90% of languages could disappear by the end of this century, which would cause irretrievable losses in cultural knowledge.
Thus, while 7,159 languages exist globally, many are vulnerable, and the number dynamically changes due to cultural and demographic shifts.
