English is a global language. It's the most spoken language on Earth, with up to 17 percent of the world's population speaking English, and approximately 400 million native speakers.

English is the official language of at least 60 countries, as well as the official second language of many others. It’s also routinely taught as a second language in schools everywhere, from Western Europe to many parts of Asia.

Whether you’re looking to meet new people, get a job, or succeed in professions ranging from science and tech to business and the media, a command of the English language is a boon.

If you’re looking for an international career or simply planning to travel a lot, meanwhile, English will come in handy in many of your destinations. Even if you’re planning on sticking close to home, knowledge of English opens the door to other cultures through television, film, music, and literature. English can even help you understand other languages!

Here are some of the many reasons why you should study English.

English is the most-spoken language in the world

Between 1.35 and 1.5 billion people use English as a native or second language. Mandarin Chinese follows closely behind, with 1.1 billion speakers, and Hindi comes third with about 600 million speakers.

As a native, or first language, English comes third after Mandarin Chinese (with 918 million native speakers) and Spanish (with 460 million native speakers).

If you know your British history, you might be able to guess which countries and regions use English as a first or second language. The majority of the former British colonies and overseas territories still use English to some extent. English is the official (or most prominent) language of the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, and is generally spoken and understood in large parts of the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

International organizations

English is also the co-official language of all the world's large international bodies. The United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OECD, NATO, the WTO, and the International Criminal Court all use English as a primary language for business and operations. Additionally, English is an official language of the African Union, APEC, ASEAN, BRICS, and the World Bank Group.

It's also used by the Olympic Committee, the World Organization of Scouts, the International Committee of the Red Cross, FIFA, and many other international or multinational organizations, usually alongside French, Spanish, and/or Chinese, German, Russian, Hindi, Portuguese, and Arabic.

The internet is in English

It's estimated that between 50-60 percent of all digital content is created in English. On YouTube, approximately two-thirds of all videos are in English, and while TikTok is available in 75 different languages, English content makes up more than one-quarter of all TikTok content.

Snapchat and WhatsApp are both available in numerous languages, and their content is largely concentrated on direct messaging, so a language breakdown is more difficult, but in both cases, it's assumed that the majority of content is in English. Here's a quick breakdown of the other popular social medias:

*There's no official percentage of English content for Facebook, but the company estimates that 40 percent of content is created in languages other than English, and English is the most commonly used language setting and content language on the platform.

There are, of course, popular non-English social media platforms, like QQ, Weibo, WeChat, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Vkontakte, but these tend to be country-specific rather than global. The reality is, if you're online, you're probably using English at least some of the time.

AI and English

With the vast majority of digital content created in English, it shouldn't be surprising to find that the major AI platforms use English as a primary language. Experts speculate that more than 90 percent of the content used to train the most prominent AIs originated in English.

AI tools, like chatbots, are also optimized in English, which means that they prioritize English output and their answers may be biased towards English-language content, particularly American English. Critics note that most AIs use American English as a default, even when questions or prompts might seek a more diverse voice.

English is essential for higher education success

Even if you're not planning to study in an English-speaking country, there's a good chance that you will need to have some grasp of English when you enter higher education.

Academic resources are published in English

English is the most commonly used language in both teaching and research. It's the clear leader in academic publications, which means that the majority of textbooks, academic journals, research papers, and other resources are written in English. Whether you study in your native language or in a language other than English, at some point you will likely need to read or utilize a resource written in English.

Many degrees are taught in English

In recent years, universities all over the world have started offering English-taught programs, especially at the graduate level. This is, in large part, because of increased student mobility. International students are valuable to universities, and English-taught programs allow for non-English-speaking countries to attract international students from more locations.

English is essential for STEM

Using English as the lingua franca of academia is most common in STEM subjects, like engineering, technology, and other sciences. It's the most commonly used language in scientific publications and is the de facto language of communication within the science and technology sectors.

If you are planning to study a STEM subject, learning English isn't really an option. You'll need competency in English both for your studies and for your future careers.

Other fields that benefit from English proficiency

English isn't just for science studies either. With increased globalization, the need for a common language has grown, and English has a long history as the language of the world.

Students considering degrees in business, economics and finance, mass communication, marketing, medicine, tourism and hospitality, and transportation and logistics will, in most cases, need some proficiency in English. Choosing an English-taught program is a great way to combine language learning and a degree, but you can also study English separately from your degree.

English opens up a world of culture

Apart from being the language of the internet, English is one of the most widely used languages in media and culture.

Most films - even those made outside of Hollywood - use English both in the script and in production and distribution. English accounts for more than 50 percent of popular music, and more than 100,000 novels are published in English every year.

Of course, books and films are often dubbed, subtitled, or translated for non-English audiences. And music can be enjoyed whether you understand the language or not. But understanding English means that you can interact with this media directly, without having to wonder if something has been lost in translation.

Furthermore, two of the three largest news sources (Associated Press and Reuters) operate primarily in English, while the largest (Agence France-Presse) uses English as one of six reporting languages. English proficiency gives you access to the news of the world.

English is the language of employment

If you are proficient in English, you've already cleared one of the major career hurdles. English is the most widely spoken language in businesses around the world, and is a common requirement in job listings. According to a Cambridge English study, more than 95 percent of employers in selected non-English-speaking countries listed English proficiency as an important skill for prospective employees. Similarly, an OECD study showed that English was the sixth most required skill for countries in the European Union, with 22 percent of all job vacancies asking for English proficiency.

More importantly, English proficiency could put you at the top of the hiring pile. The Cambridge English study found that there was a 40 percent gap in English language skills across all the surveyed companies, especially in China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea.

Knowing English could also land you a higher salary. About half of the employers surveyed offered better starting salaries to applicants with good English skills. The study also showed that employees with good English proficiency progressed faster in their positions and received higher salary increases throughout their employment.

Conclusion

English has, for many years, been one of the most widely used languages in the world. Prior to the twentieth century, the widespread influence of the British Empire gave English a foothold in business, politics, media, and culture, and the dominance of the USA in the twentieth century helped English to maintain its prominence as a lingua franca of the world.

Now, students all over the world are finding that English isn't just a good skill to have, it's increasingly essential. University programs are taught in English, course material is published in English, and English-language skills give you access to media and careers no matter where you are. And, as more of our daily existence moves into digital spaces where English is dominant, understanding English is non-negotiable.

Whether you're looking to study or work abroad, adding English to your higher education is a good choice for future success.