Language is a communication tool as old as time itself. From grunts and signs, to cave paintings followed by the development of the written word, the words we use help others to understand our needs and wants. But which language is most commonly spoken and used across the globe? This fascinating infographic from Word Tips has all the answers.

There are over 7,000 languages in use across the globe, with 23 in use across half of the world’s population. The English language comes out on top, with a staggering 1.132 billion total speakers of English. In second place, with 15 million fewer speakers is Mandarin. The number of speakers depends on a number of factors, one of which is how many people other than native speakers choose to learn and use it. This is why Mandarin, although spoken by China’s huge population, is second to English.

Language is a symbol of a country, an ingrained part of the culture and an important means of communication in every aspect. Just because we haven’t heard of a language in this list of 100 language doesn’t diminish its value.