* Different definitions of "Persian": Some consider "Persian" to encompass all dialects of the Persian language, including Dari (spoken in Afghanistan) and Tajik (spoken in Tajikistan). Others only consider the language spoken in Iran as "Persian".
* Data availability: Reliable data on language speakers is often difficult to obtain, especially for languages spoken in regions with political instability or limited access to data.
However, estimates vary widely. Some sources suggest that over 110 million people speak Persian worldwide, while others estimate it to be closer to 150 million.
The majority of Persian speakers reside in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, with significant populations in other countries like Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
It's important to note that these are just estimates, and the actual number could be higher or lower depending on the definition of "Persian" and the data used.