Facts and figures

By Service | 16 May, 2020

A collection of interesting facts which are used around the project.

A general overview of numbers concerning Colish and the world can be found here under statistics.

1. English Language

1.1 Where English is spoken

Official language in:

  • 67 countries¹
  • 27 non-sovereign entities¹
  • In 2016, 400m people spoke as a first language [1]
  • Over 2 billion speakers¹

[1] Source Wikipedia

1.2 Authority

  • A pluricentric language - no one national authority sets the standard.

1.3 Larger native English speaking countries

Where English is spoken with high proficiency

Country Million People % English Enlingua Comment
US 331 100 331
GB 68 100 68
Canada 38 85 32 58% in 2011
Australia 25 100 25
South Africa 60 9.6 6 % based on 2011
Ireland 4.9 100 5
New Zealand 4.8 100 5
Sum 472

Roughly 470 million

Source:

2. Globe

2.1 Largest countries

Country Population
China 1,439 m
India 1,380 m
US 331 m
Indonesia 273 m
Pakistan 220 m
Brazil 212 m
Nigeria 206 m
Bangladesh 164 m

3. Internet

3.1 Use

4.57 billion¹ people use it. (60% of the worlds population)

¹ April 2020, https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview

4. Computers and mobiles

4.1 Mobiles use

5.16 Billion mobiles¹

¹ April 2020, https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview

5. Trade / Export

5.1 Exporters

The number of companies who export to the world.

Country Number
China 20+ Mio

5.2 Trading partners with the US

5.2.1 Total Goods: Top trading partners 2019 - Imports

Source:

Partner Value Mio € % World
World 2,231,712 100.0
China 18.1
EU27 18.1
Mexico 14.3
Canada 12.8
Japan 5.7
South Korea 3.1
Vietnam 2.7
UK 2.5
India 2.3
Taiwan 2.2

5.3 Top trading partners EU

5.3.1 Total Goods: Top trading partners 2019 - Imports

Source:

Partner Value Mio € % World
World 1,935,379 100.0
China 18.7
USA 12.0
UK 10.0
Russia 7.5
Switzerland 5.7
Turkey 3.6
Japan 3.2
Norway 2.8
South Korea 2.4
India 2.0

5.3.2 Total Goods: Top trading partners 2019 - Exports

Source:

Partner Value Mio € % World
World 2,132,002 100.0
USA 18.0
UK 14.9
Canada 1.8
Australia ?
South Africa ?
NZ ?

Exports in English language countries ~ 35%

5.3.3 Total Goods: Top product sections 2019 - Imports

Source:

An overview of the products where documentation is needed (not including sales literature, communication, transport documentation).

The statistics are for two different classification systems.

5.3.3.1 HS Sections (Harmonized System)
Class Product Value Mio € % Extra-EU
XVI Machinery and appliances 474,951 24.5
XVII Transport equipment 161,340 8.3

Documentation is needed: Greater than 32% of all imports.

Notes:

  • % Extra-EU: imports/exports as % of all EU partners i.e. excluding trade between EU Member States
  • The above does not include such things as optical and photographic instruments.
5.3.3.2 SITC Sections
Class Product Value Mio € % Extra-EU
7 Machinery and transport equipment 635,715 32.8

Documentation is needed: Greater than 32% of all imports.

Notes:

  • The above does not include ‘Scientic and controlling instruments’, ‘Personal and household goods’

6. Learning

As much as 40% of the world’s population don’t have access to education in a language they speak or understand. That’s equivalent to 2.3 billion people.

Source: Walter, Stephen & Benson, Carol (2012) Language policy and medium of instruction in formal education. In Spolsky, Bernard (ed). The Cambridge Handbook of Language Policy, 278-300. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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