The most spoken language in the world is English. With over 1.5 billion speakers globally, English is utilized as a first language by around 370 million people and serves as a second language for many others. Its prevalence is largely due to historical factors, including the British Empire's expansion and the global influence of the United States in business, technology, and culture. English functions as a lingua franca in international communication, making it an essential language for travel, commerce, and diplomacy. Additionally, its growing importance in education and the internet has further solidified its status as a global language.