You might have never learned Spanish in your life, but you’re probably familiar with phrases like “Mi casa es su casa,” “Por favor,” or “Gracias.” 

Have you ever wondered why Spanish is such a popular and widely spoken language? 

One reason is that Spanish is the official language of 21 countries (all listed here!). Spanish is very easy to learn, and it opens the door to many business opportunities, being the second most spoken native language in the world. 

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the list of Spanish speaking countries, and we’ll explore how translation and localization are the main pillars of expanding into the Spanish business market. 

A Quick Dive into the History of the Spanish Language 

Spanish is a romance language, that is, a language that descended from Latin. The Romans brought Latin to Hispania and it evolved into common Latin (also known as vulgar Latin). 

Then, Arabs occupied Spain and had huge influences on the language. You’ll notice that a lot of Spanish words are borrowed from Arabic. 

Spanish then spread across the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of the colonizations of the “New World.” 

With Spanish spreading across South America, it became the official language of almost all countries in the continent, except Brazil, whose official language is Portuguese.

Many Spanish dialects have evolved in Latin America, varying from the standard Spanish or “Castilian.” 

Spanish Speakers in Numbers 

• There are more than 600 million Spanish speakers worldwide. 
• Spanish speakers form 7.5% of the global population. 
• Spanish is the 2nd most spoken mother tongue, after Chinese. 
• Spanish is the 4th most spoken language worldwide, including native and non-native speakers. 

If you’re expanding your business into Spanish-speaking countries, our Spanish translation services can help you adapt your content for local audiences.

Exploring the 21 Spanish Speaking Countries 

Mexico

With over 130 million Spanish speakers, Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country. It’s known for its vibrant culture, its flavorful cuisine, and unique festivals like The Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos. 

Colombia

Known for its coffee, awe-inspiring nature, and delicious tropical fruits, Colombia is a great destination for nature lovers for its unique biodiversity and varied landscapes. 

Colombia ranks second as the country with the most native Spanish speakers in Latin America, with 53 million native speakers. 

Spain

Spain is of course the birthplace of the Spanish language, with a population of 48 million Spanish speakers. 

Football fans—whether team Real Madrid or Barcelona—love visiting Camp Nou, Spain’s biggest football stadiums. Spain is also known for its simple yet flavorful cuisine, with dishes like tapas and paella. 

Argentina

Argentina has 47 million Spanish speakers. And its capital, Buenos Aires, is the birthplace of tango. Its city Ushuaia is nicknamed “the end of the world” as it’s located at the very end of South America.

Argentina is famous for its beautiful landscapes as well as being the home country of football legends like Messi and Maradona. 

Cuba 

11 million Cubans speak Spanish as their national language. When people think of Cuba, the picture that comes to mind is vintage cars driving around its colorful capital city Havana.

Besides its revolutionary history, Cuba is also known for its fine cigars, infectious music, and beautiful coastlines.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Spanish-speaking population is small compared to previous countries, with only 5.3 million people, but their culture is no less rich. 

Costa Ricans are known for their “pura vida” or “pure life” philosophy, which promotes positivity, gratitude, and good health. 

This positive outlook along with its beautiful nature are what makes Costa Rica a leader in ecotourism. 

Uruguay

Uruguay’s population is 3.5 million. It’s known for its perfect-for-surfing beaches and its socially progressive society. 

It is nicknamed “the Switzerland of Latin America” for its high living standards, neutral banking system, and strong democratic institutions. 

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea, formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa. 

It is also the smallest Spanish-speaking country in the world, with a population of 1.6 million, 74% of which are native Spanish speakers. 

Other Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America are Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay.

While Spanish-speaking countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama connect between North and South America. 

The United States: A Surprising Spanish Powerhouse

Even though the United States is not a Spanish-speaking country, it has the second-largest Spanish population in the world, with over 60 million people. 

The top 3 states with the highest Hispanic population are California, Texas, and Florida. Such a big population should be considered when addressing audiences in the United States. 

To target this community effectively, it’s important to partner with professional translation services—not just for translation, but for localization, which culturally adapts content for different cultural backgrounds.

Business Opportunities in Spanish-Speaking Countries 

The Spanish-speaking market offers significant economic value. Major industries include eCommerce, tourism, agriculture, food and beverage, and retail. 

The Spanish-speaking community, one of the largest globally, also has great purchasing power.

To succeed in this market, the first step is determining which region or culture you’re targeting. Latin Spanish and Castilian Spanish differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and even cultural context. 

For example, in Latin America, a pen is called “pluma,” while in Spain, it’s “bolígrafo.” The most notable pronunciation difference is the “s” sound, which is pronounced as “th” in Castilian Spanish. 

These variations make localization essential.

Fun Facts about Spanish

• After Latin, Arabic has had the most influence on Spanish. Spanish words derived from Arabic include Algodón (cotton), Aldea (small village), Azafrán (saffron), and Arroz (rice).
• Spanish punctuation marks are used at the beginning and end of a sentence. 

Example: ¿Cómo estás? – How are you? 

• Other terms for Spanish include “Español” and “Castellano.”
• 11 Nobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded to works in Spanish, with Gabriel García Márquez and Pablo Neruda among the winners. 

Expand into Spanish-Speaking Countries with bayantech 

Connect with bayantech to translate and localize your product or business for the vast Spanish market. 

We have a team of expert native Spanish translators, reviewers, and editors that will help you achieve all your translation goals to reach your Spanish customers across the globe. 

Contact us to get a free consultation and start your project now!