* South Africa: The majority of Zulu speakers live in South Africa, where it's an official language and the most widely spoken language in the country. Estimates range from 12 million to 22 million speakers.
* Other countries: Zulu is also spoken in neighboring countries like Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana. These numbers are much smaller than in South Africa.
* Total: Adding up all speakers worldwide, it's estimated that between 15 and 25 million people speak Zulu.
However, it's important to note that:
* Different definitions: There are different ways to define "speaker." Some definitions include those who speak Zulu as a first language, while others include those who speak it as a second language.
* Fluency: The level of fluency among speakers varies greatly. Some people speak Zulu fluently, while others only have a basic understanding.
Because of these factors, it's impossible to get a precise number of Zulu speakers worldwide.