* Official Language: Catalan is an official language in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Valencia. It's also spoken in other regions with varying degrees of official status.
* Different Definitions: The number of Catalan speakers varies depending on how you define "speaker":
* Native speakers: Those who learned Catalan as their first language.
* Fluent speakers: Those who are able to speak Catalan with a high level of proficiency.
* Passive speakers: Those who understand Catalan but may not be able to speak it fluently.
* Changing Demographics: The number of Catalan speakers is constantly changing due to migration, language policy, and other factors.
However, based on estimates from various sources, here are some approximate figures:
* Native Catalan speakers: Around 4 million
* Fluent Catalan speakers: Around 6 million
* People who understand Catalan: Possibly up to 7.5 million
It's important to note that these are just estimates, and the actual number of Catalan speakers in Spain may vary depending on the criteria used.