By Number of Native Speakers:
1. Mandarin Chinese: Roughly 1 billion native speakers.
2. Hindi: Approximately 600 million native speakers.
3. English: Around 375 million native speakers.
4. Spanish: Approximately 540 million native speakers.
5. Arabic: Roughly 420 million native speakers.
6. Bengali: Around 265 million native speakers.
7. Portuguese: Approximately 258 million native speakers.
8. Russian: Roughly 154 million native speakers.
9. Japanese: Around 128 million native speakers.
10. Punjabi: Approximately 100 million native speakers.
By Number of Total Speakers (including non-native speakers):
1. English: With over 1.5 billion speakers globally.
2. Mandarin Chinese: Approximately 1.1 billion speakers.
3. Hindi: Around 600 million speakers.
4. Spanish: Approximately 540 million speakers.
5. Arabic: Roughly 420 million speakers.
6. Bengali: Around 265 million speakers.
7. Portuguese: Approximately 258 million speakers.
8. Russian: Roughly 258 million speakers.
9. French: Around 265 million speakers.
10. German: Approximately 130 million speakers.
By Influence and Use in International Communication:
1. English: Dominates international business, science, technology, and media.
2. Mandarin Chinese: Increasingly important in global trade and diplomacy.
3. Spanish: Widely spoken in the Americas and parts of Europe.
4. Arabic: Used by millions across the Middle East and North Africa.
5. French: Official language in many countries and significant influence in international organizations.
Important Notes:
* These lists are not definitive and can change based on changing demographics and language usage patterns.
* The distinction between native and total speakers is important. English has fewer native speakers but far more total speakers due to its global spread and use as a second language.
* Influence and use in international communication are subjective, and some languages might be more influential in specific fields or regions.
It's crucial to remember that all languages are valuable and important, regardless of their position on a "top 10" list. Each language reflects the rich cultural heritage and identity of its speakers.