Here's a breakdown of the challenges:
* Mandarin vs. Chinese: Mandarin is the most spoken variety of the Chinese language. It's often used interchangeably with "Chinese," leading to confusion.
* Native vs. Second Language: A large percentage of the world speaks Mandarin as a second language, primarily in regions with significant Chinese diaspora populations.
* Fluency vs. Understanding: How do we define fluency? Someone might understand basic phrases but not be considered fluent.
Estimates:
* Native Speakers: Around 950 million people worldwide speak Mandarin as their native language. This makes it the most spoken language in the world.
* Total Speakers: Estimates for total speakers of Mandarin, including those who speak it as a second language, range from 1.1 billion to 1.3 billion.
Percentage of the World:
* Based on a world population of approximately 8 billion, the percentage of Mandarin speakers is roughly 11.9% to 16.3%, depending on which estimate you use.
Important Note: These are estimates based on available data, and the actual percentage can vary depending on the criteria used.