* Definitions of "Persian" vary: Some include Dari and Tajik, which are closely related languages. Others consider these distinct languages.
* Language data collection is often inaccurate: It's hard to gather accurate and up-to-date data on language use across the globe.
However, based on estimates from various sources, here's a rough breakdown:
* Persian as a first language: Around 110 million people speak Persian as their native language, primarily in Iran, Afghanistan (Dari), and Tajikistan (Tajik).
* Persian as a second language: Millions more learn and speak Persian as a second language, especially in neighboring countries and within diaspora communities.
To give you a sense of scale, if you consider all speakers, including those who learn Persian as a second language, the number could be significantly higher than 110 million.
However, without more precise data, providing a percentage is unreliable. It's important to understand that these figures are estimates and may vary depending on the source and definition of "Persian."