* Native speakers vs. total speakers: Do we count only those who speak Spanish as their first language, or also those who learned it as a second language?
* Different dialects and levels of fluency: How do we define "speaking Spanish"? Do we count everyone who can understand a few basic phrases, or only those who are fluent?
* Data collection challenges: Collecting accurate data on language usage across the globe is complex and can vary depending on the source.
That said, estimates suggest that there are around 570 million native Spanish speakers globally. This makes it the second most spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese.
When including second language speakers and those with some degree of understanding, the number could easily reach over 600 million or even 700 million.