* No official census: There isn't a global census that specifically tracks language usage.
* Cantonese dialects: Cantonese is a family of dialects, and there are variations within them. Some dialects are mutually intelligible, while others are not.
* Multi-lingual speakers: Many Cantonese speakers are also fluent in other languages, like Mandarin or English.
However, here are some estimates based on available data:
* Hong Kong: Cantonese is the dominant language in Hong Kong, with about 7.5 million speakers.
* Guangdong Province, China: Cantonese is spoken by a majority of the population in Guangdong Province, which has over 120 million people.
* Other regions: Cantonese is also spoken in other parts of China, as well as in Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, though the numbers are less precise.
Based on these estimates, it's reasonable to say that there are likely tens of millions of Cantonese speakers worldwide.
It's important to remember that these are just rough estimates. The actual number could be higher or lower, depending on the specific definition of "Cantonese speaker."