* Defining "Language": There's a spectrum between distinct languages and dialects. Where do you draw the line? Is a regional accent a language? What about a creole or pidgin?
* Counting Indigenous vs. All Languages: Do you count all languages spoken, including those brought by immigrants, or only indigenous languages?
* Language Vitality: A language could be spoken by a large number of people, but be considered endangered or dying.
However, here are some strong contenders based on various factors:
* India: India boasts a vast number of languages (over 121), including 22 officially recognized languages. Many of these are indigenous, and the country has a rich linguistic diversity.
* Papua New Guinea: This island nation is known for its incredible linguistic diversity, with over 800 languages spoken. Many are endangered, but it has the highest density of languages per area.
* Indonesia: With over 700 languages spoken, Indonesia has a large number of indigenous languages, though many are endangered.
* China: China has a high number of speakers for many of its languages, including Mandarin Chinese, which has over 1 billion speakers.
In conclusion:
It's difficult to definitively say which country has the "most" languages spoken. There's no single answer due to varying definitions and methods of counting. However, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and China are all strong contenders for the title.