Duolingo’s 2023 Language Report reveals a surge in Korean, English’s global dominance, and Hindi’s growth, spotlighting Indian travel motivations and a growing emphasis on language learning in New Year resolutions.
Duolingo, the world’s #1 online learning platform, kicked off its end-of-year celebration of learning with the release of its global Language Report. This report explores the most popular languages studied on Duolingo and highlights the critical language learning trends, reflecting insights derived from the platform’s 83 million monthly learners worldwide.
In 2023, more than 23 billion lessons were completed, and almost one and a half billion hours were spent learning on Duolingo. Over 32 million people globally studied more than one language this year. This year’s data shows how learner motivation and interest have impacted the top ten most popular languages.
Key findings reveal:
Korean continues to grow in global popularity
The Korean course jumped to #6 in global rankings. Young people are showing keen interest in Asian languages, especially Korean. It ranks among the top 10 languages, including India, where it has grown 75% year-over-year.
English remains the most popular language
English continues to top the charts worldwide. It is the #1 language to study in 122 countries. 49% of global learners are motivated to study English for education or work. 40% of English learners hail from India, citing education as their primary motivation for language study. Additionally, English learners in India complete the most lessons daily, marking the language’s widespread importance in the country’s educational landscape.
Hindi’s surging growth and global appeal
Hindi has made significant progress in language learning on Duolingo, jumping two spots from #10 in 2022 to #8 in 2023. Over 8.4 million learners are actively studying Hindi on the app globally. Hindi is the second most popular language among Duolingo’s learners in India, following English.
Language learning is increasingly becoming a priority, with 64% of Indians resolving to prioritize it. Among these language-learning resolutions, 55% aim for personal growth, self-improvement, or career advancement, while 75% of Indians expressed their commitment to practice their language skills in the new year.
“Language serves as the gateway to understanding diverse cultures and fostering meaningful connections. Our insights highlight the evolving landscape of language learning, extending beyond borders and reflecting India’s vibrant enthusiasm for embracing new experiences. This enthusiasm is evident in our learners’ dedication to exploring languages, cultures, and personal growth. It inspires us to innovate and maintain language learning as an engaging journey for all our learners,” said Karandeep Singh Kapany, Regional Marketing Director, Duolingo.
Duolingo also released its Year in Review experience, an engaging visualization of an individual’s year-long learning journey. Every learner is assigned one of eight different learner personas based on their learning data, including hours spent learning, number of courses taken, what time a learner tends to practice, and more. All learners can relive their year on Duolingo and share personalized cards on social media to celebrate their accomplishments.
About Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning platforms and the most downloaded education app worldwide. Language learning with Duolingo is fun and engaging through its bite-sized lessons that feel like playing a game. The company aims to develop the best language education globally and make it universally available. Duolingo offers over 100 courses across 42 distinct languages, ranging from Spanish, French, German, and Japanese to Navajo and Yiddish.
