* Different definitions of "speaking English": Does it mean native speakers? Fluent speakers? People who understand but don't speak?
* Lack of accurate data: There's no single global census that tracks language proficiency.
However, here's some information that gives you an idea:
* Native speakers: Estimates suggest around 375 million native English speakers globally.
* Second language speakers: The number of people who speak English as a second language is significantly higher, likely around 1 billion or more.
* Total speakers: Adding native and non-native speakers, some sources estimate that 1.5 billion people worldwide speak English to some degree.
Considering the global population is around 8 billion, this suggests that approximately 18-19% of the world's population can speak English.
Important Note: These numbers are estimates, and the actual percentage can vary depending on how you define "speaking English."