What percentage of the world speaks Mandarin?

It's difficult to give a precise percentage of the world that speaks Mandarin, as there are different ways to define "speak" and there are various dialects of Mandarin.

Here's a breakdown of some important factors:

* Number of speakers: Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world with over 1 billion native speakers.

* Percentage of world population: This number fluctuates based on population growth and other factors. However, a rough estimate suggests that around 12-15% of the world's population speaks Mandarin.

* Native vs. Non-native speakers: This number includes only native speakers, but many people around the world learn Mandarin as a second language. Including non-native speakers would significantly increase the percentage.

It's important to remember that:

* "Mandarin" is not a single language: It encompasses several dialects, making it challenging to define a unified percentage.

* Language proficiency levels vary widely: Some individuals may have basic Mandarin skills while others are fluent.

Ultimately, any precise percentage is an approximation. The most accurate way to determine the percentage of the world speaking Mandarin would require a comprehensive study considering various aspects mentioned above.