* Varying Data Sources: Different sources use different methodologies and definitions of "first language."
* Language Boundaries: German is spoken in several countries, and there's no clear distinction between "German" and "Austrian" or "Swiss" German, for example.
* Language Shift: Language use is constantly evolving, and people may shift away from using German as their primary language.
However, according to the most recent estimates:
* About 78 million people speak German as a native language in Germany.
* Approximately 13 million people speak German as a native language in Austria.
* About 5 million people speak German as a native language in Switzerland.
* Other countries where German is spoken include Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Italy, and parts of Eastern Europe.
Adding these figures together, the total number of native German speakers worldwide is estimated to be around 100 million.
Keep in mind that this is an approximation. The actual number could be slightly higher or lower depending on the source and methodology used.