By Webfit News | 9 October 2026 | Global Education & Analysis From Europe to Latin America, Chinese is emerging as one of the fastest-growing languages studied on Duolingo.
By Webfit News | 9 October 2026 | Global Education & Analysis
From Europe to Latin America, Chinese is emerging as one of the fastest-growing languages studied on Duolingo. But what is driving this interest, and what does it mean for the global economy, education and countries such as New Zealand?
A significant shift is taking place in global language learning. Chinese, particularly Mandarin, is attracting growing interest across countries with very different economies, cultures and relationships with China.
According to Duolingo’s 2025 Language Report, Chinese was the fastest-growing language studied on its platform in 12 countries, including Germany, France, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and South Korea. It ranked second for growth in the United States.
The trend, highlighted in a video from The Palki Sharma Show, raises an interesting question: are people learning Mandarin for economic opportunities, cultural interests or to prepare for a changing world?
1. The Numbers: How Fast Is Chinese Growing?
|
Key indicator |
2025 finding |
|
Countries where Chinese grew fastest |
12 |
|
Chinese growth ranking in the US |
2nd |
|
Chinese global popularity ranking |
8th |
|
English global popularity ranking |
1st |
|
Countries where English was most studied |
154 |
|
Reporting period |
Oct 2024 to Sep 2025 |
Source: Duolingo 2025 Language Report
Chinese recorded the fastest growth in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Türkiye.
The geographical spread is significant. These countries represent major European economies, Asian markets and Latin American nations.
However, fastest-growing does not mean most popular. Chinese ranked eighth globally on Duolingo, behind several European and Asian languages.
2. Which Languages Are People Studying?
Duolingo’s global popularity rankings provide a broader picture of language-learning preferences.
|
Rank |
Language |
|
1 |
English |
|
2 |
Spanish |
|
3 |
French |
|
4 |
Japanese |
|
5 |
German |
|
6 |
Korean |
|
7 |
Italian |
|
8 |
Chinese |
|
9 |
Portuguese |
|
10 |
Hindi |
Source: Duolingo 2025 Language Report
English remains the clear leader, while Japanese and Korean are also attracting considerable interest.
Japanese overtook German to become the fourth most popular language, while Korean climbed to sixth place, ahead of Italian.
These changes suggest that interest in Asian languages is expanding beyond Mandarin.
3. Why Are More People Learning Mandarin?
One possible explanation is economic opportunity.
China remains deeply connected to global manufacturing, international trade, technology and supply chains.
For businesses dealing with Chinese suppliers, investors and customers, Mandarin skills can help improve communication and strengthen professional relationships.
Potential career benefits include:
However, the Duolingo data does not establish why individual learners chose Chinese. Economic opportunity is a possible explanation rather than a proven cause.
Cultural interest may also play a role. Chinese cinema, literature, food, history and digital entertainment provide additional reasons for people to explore the language.
4. Is English Losing Its Global Position?
The available evidence suggests otherwise.
English remained the most studied language on Duolingo in 154 countries during 2025, making it the leading language-learning choice in approximately 79% of countries covered by the report.
|
Indicator |
English |
Chinese |
|
Global popularity |
1st |
8th |
|
Most studied in countries |
154 |
Not specified |
|
Fastest-growing in countries |
Not specified |
12 |
|
Overall position |
Dominant |
Growing interest |
Source: Duolingo 2025 Language Report
The findings indicate that people are increasingly exploring additional languages rather than abandoning English.
For many learners, Mandarin may complement existing English skills instead of replacing them.
5. What Does This Mean for New Zealand?
The trend is particularly relevant to New Zealand because of its longstanding economic, educational and cultural connections with China.
Mandarin can be useful for people working in export businesses, tourism, international education, logistics and professional services.
For young New Zealanders, learning Mandarin alongside English and te reo Māori could provide additional opportunities in international business and cross-cultural communication.
The potential benefits are not limited to employment. Language learning can also help people understand different cultures, communicate with communities and build international relationships.
However, language choices should reflect individual interests, career goals and educational priorities.
Mandarin is one valuable option among many.
6. Other Asian Languages Are Growing Too
Mandarin is not the only Asian language attracting greater attention.
Japanese became the world’s fourth most popular language on Duolingo in 2025, overtaking German.
Korean also strengthened its position, rising to sixth globally.
Korean was the second-fastest-growing language in seven countries, including France, Germany and Mexico.
|
Language |
Global ranking |
Notable development |
|
Japanese |
4th |
Overtook German |
|
Korean |
6th |
Overtook Italian |
|
Chinese |
8th |
Fastest-growing in 12 countries |
|
Hindi |
10th |
Remained among top 10 |
Source: Duolingo 2025 Language Report
These figures suggest growing international interest in Asian languages, potentially influenced by cultural exchange, entertainment, tourism and economic connections.
7. What the Data Does Not Tell Us
While the Duolingo findings are significant, they have limitations.
The report examines activity on a particular language-learning platform between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.
It does not measure every language learner worldwide.
The findings also do not establish how proficient users become, how many complete their courses or whether the same growth patterns will continue.
Importantly, the figures cannot prove that China’s economic or geopolitical influence directly caused the increase in Mandarin learning.
They demonstrate changing learning preferences, not the motivations behind every decision.
8. The Bigger Picture: Language, Opportunity and Global Influence
Language has always been closely connected to trade, education, migration and cultural exchange.
As international relationships evolve, people may increasingly recognise the value of communicating across different languages and cultures.
The growing interest in Mandarin suggests that learners across several continents see value in understanding Chinese.
At the same time, English remains dominant, while Japanese, Korean and other languages are also gaining attention.
The story is therefore not about Mandarin replacing English. It is about a world where multilingual skills may become increasingly useful.
For governments, educational institutions, employers and families, the challenge is understanding which language skills will help prepare people for future opportunities.
The key takeaway: Mandarin’s growth is measurable, but its long-term impact will depend on how learners use those skills in education, employment and international relationships.
The world’s language-learning landscape is changing, and Chinese is becoming an increasingly important part of that conversation.
