With Spanish now spoken by 636 million people worldwide, demand for learning the language is rising faster than ever. With a growing number of career-driven adult learners, Speaekasy BCN reflects the worldwide surge in interest for Spanish.
Spanish is continuing its growth with the new Instituto Cervantes annual report, El Español en el Mundo, revealing there are now 636 million Spanish speakers globally.
That’s an increase from 600 million recorded in November 2024 – and the trend is showing no signs of slowing.
As part of the media conversation surrounding the report, Speakeasy BCN was featured in two respected English-language publications in Spain:
The Olive Press, Spain’s leading English-language newspaper
The Spanish Eye, which covers culture, trends and international education
Both outlets reached out to Speakeasy BCN to understand how this global growth aligns with what we’re seeing on the ground in Barcelona, one of the world’s most popular destinations for Spanish learners.
You can read the coverage here:
A record year for Spanish learners at Speakeasy BCN
Speaking to both publications, Speakeasy BCN Operations Manager Yasmin Minusculi confirmed that the surge in global Spanish learning is mirrored in our classrooms.
“After eight years at Speakeasy BCN, I’ve never seen interest in Spanish learning this strong.”
— Yasmin Minusculi, Operations Manager, Speakeasy BCN
One of the standout insights from this year’s Instituto Cervantes report is that people learning Spanish as a foreign or second language represent the fastest-growing segment of Spanish speakers worldwide. The segment is growing faster than the number of native speakers themselves.
This trend is exactly what we’ve observed among students taking our Spanish courses.
Why more adults are choosing Spanish, especially working professionals
Interest in Spanish isn’t only rising among young learners. According to Yasmin, students aged 28–45 now make up one of the fastest-growing groups in our school.
“What’s interesting is the shift in age groups. We’re seeing more students in their late 20s to 40s who are studying Spanish to broaden their career horizons.”
From technology and research to creative industries and global communications, Spanish is increasingly becoming a gateway to opportunity.
As part of the media conversation, we highlighted several real-world student examples that reflect the evolving profile of Spanish learners:
Luka from Serbia, a mature student who came to Barcelona to continue his work as an atmospheric scientist at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, and is studying Spanish to collaborate more effectively with his colleagues.
Alicia from China, who moved to Barcelona to pursue her Master’s degree, and is learning Spanish to expand her professional options in Europe and beyond.
Students like Luka and Alicia represent a growing global reality: Spanish is no longer just a cultural or travel skill, it’s becoming a professional asset.
For media & press enquiries
Speakeasy BCN is proud to contribute to conversations about the future of Spanish language learning, multilingual education and international mobility.
Journalists can reach us for comment at: info@speakeasybcn.com
Posted in Learn Spanish
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