The world has changed — and so have the reasons people learn languages. Remote work has exploded, inspiring a new wave of digital nomads, and shifting political and economic landscapes have sparked new migration patterns.
At Berlitz, we’ve seen these global shifts firsthand. Over the past three years, the languages our students choose to learn with a Berlitz tutor online have been evolving. So, what languages are people gravitating toward? Which ones are slipping? Let’s dive into the data.
Which language turned out to be the biggest player globally between 2024 and 2023? No surprise here: it’s English. It continues to dominate as the most popular language learned in 2024, with German, French, and Spanish rounding out the top five.
Let’s take a closer look at these—and other—language learning trends and what’s driving them.
When we dug into our data based on Berlitz students that learned a language online with an instructor, three languages stood out as the top choices for learners around the world: English, German, and French.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned a language online with an instructor
English remains the global frontrunner, with 64.5% of our students choosing it in 2024. But we did notice a slight shift: a 4.9% drop in student growth compared to 2023. English still dominates global business, but as more people gain proficiency, learners are starting to explore other languages to diversify their skills.
German held its spot as the second-most learned language online with an instructor, though we saw a slight (3.4%) decrease in learners since 2023. Germany’s strong economy and reputation as a powerhouse in engineering and manufacturing make learning German a smart choice for career growth. Plus, cities like Berlin and Munich are rising as digital nomad hubs.
For French, we saw a 9.8% increase in its learners' share, with a 5.6% growth in overall student numbers since 2023. This lines up with the growing interest in Francophone Africa’s business landscape and Canada’s immigration pathways, where French proficiency is a major asset.
Not every language is riding the wave of growth. Some are slipping — fast. As we combed through the numbers, a few sharp declines stood out.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned online with an instructor
From 2022 to 2024, its share of learners dropped by 35.8%, and the total number of students shrank by 32.8%. Just in the last year, we saw a 12.5% dip in share and 15.8% fewer students signing up. Politics and global tensions seem to have cooled interest in the language.
Spanish has long been a global favorite, but its share has dropped by 30.9%, with total students falling by 27.5%. In some regions, Spanish is so widely spoken that the urgency to learn it has faded. It seems like learners are gravitating toward niche languages that offer access to more specialized markets.
We’ve witnessed some niche languages skyrocketing in popularity over the past two years. They might not have the largest learner bases yet, but their momentum is impossible to ignore.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned a language online with an instructor
Dutch’s share of learners has skyrocketed by 76.2% and its total students have grown by a whopping 84.7% since 2022. What’s behind this sudden surge? It may be that more expats are heading to the Netherlands for work and study, drawn by the country’s booming international business scene and famously high quality of life.
Polish has seen a huge spike in our data of students learning a language online with an instructor, with our student numbers climbing 68.1% over the past two years. We can see why, as Poland’s rapidly rising economy, increased immigration, and expanding role on the global stage are attracting more foreigners to settle down in Poland. As of 2023, the number of foreigners registered in Poland's social insurance system climbed by 6%.
Danish is steadily gaining traction. Student share has risen by 49.5%, with total learners up 56.7% since 2022. It looks like Denmark’s thriving job market is part of the draw. Plus, Denmark’s exceptional quality of living (according to the OECD Better Life Index, Danes rate their life satisfaction at 7.5 out of 10) seems to be inspiring more learners to give Danish a go.
Mandarin’s growth is more of a slow burn, but it’s undeniable. Over the past two years, we’ve seen a 19.7% increase in student share and a 25.5% rise in total learners. As China cements its influence in business, tech, and diplomacy, more people recognize the value of speaking Mandarin. It’s less of a trend and more of a long-term investment.
We’ve found that some languages have experienced impressive percentage jumps in student numbers. But while these percentages are flying off our charts (literally), the actual increase in learners behind them is relatively small. Still, these shifts are intriguing — and maybe not as random as they seem. The question is, will these languages continue growing in popularity in 2025 and beyond? We’ll have to find out.
Southeast Asian languages are on the rise
Southeast Asia has become a hotspot for digital nomads and adventurous expats, and our data reflects that. Indonesian shot up by 180% between 2023 and 2024. Vietnamese also spiked, with 400% more students in 2024 than in 2023.
Central Europe is having a moment
Polish, Dutch, and Danish are steadily climbing, driven by economic opportunities, immigration, and growing international interest in the region. Whether for work, study, or relocation, learners are clearly seeing the value of Central European languages.
Roman languages are losing their grip
While French holds steady, Spanish and Italian are slipping out of favor, and Portuguese's recent surge seems to have cooled off. Learners appear to be shifting focus toward languages that open doors to more specialized markets and unique career opportunities.
At Berlitz, we’ve seen distinct shifts in the languages our students are picking up across different countries and regions over the past two years. Let’s dive into the numbers and uncover what’s driving these changes.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned a language online with an instructor
In the U.S., language learning is shifting. After a dip in 2023, English bounced back with 15.6% growth, now making up almost half of Berlitz's online learners (with an instructor) in the country. According to Statista, the U.S. ranks third for the highest number of students learning English as a foreign language in 2023.
Meanwhile, traditionally popular languages like Spanish and French are slipping. Spanish dropped 20% since 2023 and 51.7% since 2022, while French declined by 33.7% in the past year.
The language learning patterns in the U.S. reflect some global ones but buck others. English dominates worldwide, but Spanish’s sharp decline is more unique. On the rise? German, up 32.4%, and Korean, growing 23.5%, likely driven by economic opportunities and the K-culture boom.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned a language online with an instructor
In Latin America, English is king, though student numbers dipped 8.1% from 2023, hinting at growing interest in other languages. Portuguese has surged 84.7% since 2022, driven by Brazil’s rising economic influence. German, once a solid contender, is fading — down 42.9% from 2023 and 59% since 2022.
Other languages, like French and Italian, aren’t exactly stealing the spotlight. And Spanish? Well, let’s just say we’re not shocked that Latin Americans aren’t rushing to sign up for online Spanish classes with our tutors. They’ve pretty much got that one covered.
But the one language that stands out in Latin America is Portuguese. While it doesn’t hold as much weight globally, in Latin America, it’s booming. Latin American learners seem to be choosing languages that align with regional opportunities — and Brazil is leading the charge.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned online with an instructor
Europe's language game is shifting. English still holds the crown, but its shine is fading. From 2022 to 2024, online English learners (with an instructor) across Europe dropped by 6.0%, with its overall share shrinking from 54.5% to 47.6%. In Germany, the decline is even sharper — student numbers plunged by 22.5%.
One language making serious waves is Polish. Across Europe, Polish learners surged by 77.7%, but Germany takes the spotlight with a staggering 192.9% increase. This surge aligns with deepening economic ties — Poland ranked as Germany’s fifth-largest trading partner in 2022, with imports hitting $87.01 billion in 2023. On top of that, the German government is backing Polish language education with €5 million in funding through 2025, signaling a strategic push for stronger cross-border collaboration.
Asian languages are also climbing the ranks. In Germany, Japanese learners rose by 60.7% since 2022, while Mandarin saw a 41.4% increase. Whether it’s economic prospects or a fascination with Asian cultures, Germans seem to be setting their sights on these languages.
But not all languages are riding the growth wave. Spanish and French have taken hits in Germany, dropping by 12.8% and 30%, respectively, since 2023. This trend aligns with a broader shift across Europe, where Spanish saw a 25.9% drop and Russian fell by 15.8%, likely influenced by geopolitical tensions.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned online with an instructor
The takeaway? Europeans aren’t just following tradition when picking up a new language — they’re making strategic choices. Whether it’s strengthening cross-border connections, unlocking career opportunities, or embracing cultural trends, language learning in 2024 is all about relevance.
Source: Berlitz GOLD data - Students who learned online with an instructor
In Japan, English isn’t just king. It’s the entire royal court, claiming a massive 82.3% of our online learners (with an instructor) in 2024. To put it in perspective, Mandarin sits in second place with just 6.5% of the share. Clearly, the Japanese are laser-focused on mastering English.
That said, other languages are quietly making moves. Mandarin has seen a whopping 71.3% growth in the number of students since 2022. No surprise there, considering China is Japan's top trading partner and the world’s second-largest economy. So, it only makes sense that Japanese professionals are sharpening their Mandarin skills to tap into cross-border business opportunities.
Korean isn’t far behind, with a 65.9% jump, no doubt fueled by the Hallyu wave sweeping through Japanese pop culture. Post-pandemic, Korean content consumption in Japan jumped over 30%. This growing cultural fascination, paired with South Korea’s tech and entertainment influence, is making Korean a hot language to learn.
Next in line are German, French, and Spanish, steadily gaining popularity as Japanese learners eye academic paths and business ventures abroad. The focus may still be on English, but other languages are starting to gain momentum.
Based on our data, it seems like learners will focus on languages that open doors to jobs, trade, and global mobility in 2025 and beyond.
Niche languages like Polish and Dutch will keep climbing as economic opportunities and immigration drive demand. Schools that once focused on the “big” languages like Spanish, French, and German will feel pressured to diversify their offerings.
So, curriculums may expand to include these languages, especially in regions with growing expat communities or international job markets.
At Berlitz, we’re already offering our students around the world the possibility to learn 40+ languages.
Yes, AI translation tools are getting more sophisticated, and you could try learning a language with ChatGPT alone. But despite all that, we believe that AI can’t replace what really matters in language learning: structured learning, real-time feedback, and personalized guidance from a teacher.
We expect learners to get more efficient and use AI to drill vocab, practice conversations, or even write assignments, but we don’t think that the core of language learning — guided instruction and practice — is going anywhere anytime soon.
That said, language learning methods like grammar drills, rote memorization, and fill-in-the-blank exercises will no longer be enough for AI-armed learners. In 2025, we need to move beyond textbooks and into practical, conversation-driven learning.
Learners will demand real-world scenarios, personalized feedback, and interactive lessons that prepare them to actually use the language — not just ace a quiz. The focus will be on speaking, understanding, and thinking in the language from day one.
Over the past two years, we've seen firsthand how the reality of language learning is shifting — fast. As the geopolitical, economic, cultural, and migration movements fluctuate, so do our learners' motivations behind learning a new language.
Economic opportunities, immigration, and job mobility are pushing learners toward niche languages that give them more of a competitive edge.
For businesses, this means rethinking language training and giving their employees an opportunity to learn niche languages needed to navigate specific markets.
For educators, the rise of AI means the need to get more creative and move beyond textbooks into more practical, interactive lesson plans that prepare students for real-life scenarios and hone their conversation skills.
And for learners, 2025 is about choosing languages that offer a competitive edge and align with their personal and career needs instead of learning a language just because it’s trending.
Journalists, businesses, and researchers: feel free to cite this study and reach out for insights into the future of language learning. For media inquiries or expert commentary, contact us.
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