21 Spanish Speaking Countries: From Largest To Smallest

Niall QuinnNiall Quinn in Travel

Get our free email course, Shortcut to Conversational.

Have conversations faster, understand people when they speak fast, and other tested tips to learn faster.

More info

At BaseLang, we’ve helped thousands of people learn Spanish, and many of our students share the same motivation for learning Spanish: Travel.

Whether you already have the travel bug, or you’re dreaming of one day buying a plane ticket to Spain or Latin America and scratching that travel itch, learning Spanish is a no-brainer.

Not only will you be able to immerse yourself in a new culture and connect with Spanish speaking locals, but you’ll also have a list of 21 official Spanish speaking countries to add to your travel bucket list.

(Ok, we’re not recommending that you should travel to each country on the list, but you get the point.)

How Many People Speak Spanish?

493 million people speak Spanish as a native language, making it the second most-spoken language in the world (source: Instituto Cervantes, 2021). As a native language, Spanish is ahead of English, but behind Chinese, which has the world’s most native speakers.

If we include everyone who speaks decent Spanish as a second language, we can use Spanish to communicate with 591 million people worldwide! This makes Spanish the third most-spoken language in the world, behind Chinese and English, and on par with Hindi.

Spanish is also one of the most-used languages on the internet, with huge Spanish-language communities on international social networks.

Not to mention the fact that Spanish is continuing to grow in traditionally non-Spanish-speaking countries.

Let’s take the United States, for example, where over 60 million people identified as being of Hispanic origin in the 2019 census, comprising more than 18% of the country’s population. The Spanish language has by far the most native speakers in the country, with 12% of the American population using it as their primary language in 2021.

Ay caramba!

List Of Spanish Speaking Countries

If you are planning to learn Spanish, or have already nailed down some of the basics, then there are tons of attractive options for putting your Español to the test.

To be exact, 21 countries have Spanish as their official language.

    1. Mexico
    2. Colombia
    3. Spain
    4. Argentina
    5. Perú
    6. Venezuela
    7. Chile
    8. Ecuador
    9. Guatemala
    10. Cuba
    11. Bolivia
    12. Dominican Republic
    13. Honduras
    14. Paraguay
    15. El Salvador
    16. Nicaragua
    17. Costa Rica
    18. Panama
    19. Uruguay
    20. Puerto Rico
    21. Equatorial Guinea

1. Mexico

Dancers in colorful traditional costumes and masks perform in a lively outdoor festival inspired by Spanish Speaking Countries, with bystanders watching and vibrant decorations in the background on a cobblestone street.

 

Highlights: The annual Day of the Dead festival on November 1st & 2nd each year, postcard-perfect Caribbean beaches, delicious street tacos for under a dollar, historic ruins of Chichen Itza and Teotihuacán.

2. Colombia

A tropical beach in one of the Spanish-speaking countries, with turquoise water, people swimming and relaxing on a sandy shore lined with palm trees, and a thatched-roof hut on a rocky hill beneath a clear blue sky.

 

Highlights: Caribbean flavor of Cartagena, Parque Tayrona national park, Medellin nightlife, learning salsa in Cali, touring a coffee farm in the Zona Cafetera.

 

3. Spain

A person with a raised fist watches a crowded soccer stadium in one of the Spanish speaking countries, where a large striped flag is displayed on the field before a match, surrounded by passionate fans under a partly cloudy sky.

 

Highlights: Barcelona & Real Madrid battling it out in “El Clasico,” eating tapas, architectural masterpieces such as Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia and the fortress/palace Alhambra, heading south for some beach hopping.

Related: Read about the differences between Spain Spanish & Latin American Spanish.

4. Argentina

Night view of the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, illuminated and standing in a busy city square with light trails from traffic—a vibrant scene in one of the most iconic Spanish speaking countries, with surrounding buildings lit up.

 

Highlights: Iguazu Falls, Tango in Buenos Aires, vineyards of Mendoza, hiking in Patagonia, and visiting Ushuaia (claimed to be the most southernmost city in the world).

5. Perú

Ancient stone ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the most famous sites in Spanish speaking countries, sit atop a lush green mountain ridge, surrounded by steep peaks under a cloudy sky, with tourists exploring the site.

 

Highlights: Peruvian cuisine, Machu Picchu ruins, bustling city of Lima, Nazca Lines, visiting the Amazon, Lake Titicaca, and surfing in Mancora.

6. Venezuela

A tall, narrow waterfall cascades down a steep cliff surrounded by lush green forest, reminiscent of those found in Spanish speaking countries, with mist and clouds shrouding the rocky cliffs and a rainbow visible near the waterfall’s base.

 

Highlights: Angel Falls (the highest waterfall in the world at 3230 feet), beachtime in Margarita Island, sand dunes of Médanos de Coro National Park.

Unfortunately, Venezuela is pretty unstable at the moment, so we cannot advise visiting there right now. In the meantime, why not head to some of the other Spanish-speaking countries around South America where you’re bound to meet plenty of Venezolanos.

7. Chile

Silhouette of 15 large moai statues lined up on Easter Island—one of the mysterious Spanish speaking countries—at dusk, with a colorful sky in shades of purple, pink, and orange in the background.

 

Highlights: Easter Island, Punta Arenas (also claimed to be the southernmost city in the world), adventure sports in Pucón, Valparaiso street art, and sandboarding in the Atacama desert.

8. Ecuador

A snow-capped mountain stands tall under a cloudy sky, with mist and low clouds partially covering its slopes—evoking the dramatic landscapes often found in Spanish Speaking Countries. Trees and shrubbery are visible in the foreground.

 

Highlights: Montañita beach town, Cotopaxi National Park, the Galápagos Islands (which inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution), and Quito, one of the highest capital cities in the world (prepare for the altitude).

9. Guatemala

Ancient Mayan ruins in one of the Spanish speaking countries, featuring a tall stepped pyramid, stone structures, and green trees under a partly cloudy sky; visitors walk around the grassy site.

 

Highlights: Ancient Mayan city of Tikal, sunrise hike in Lake Atitlán, and adventure sports in Semuc Champey.

cta photo

Unsure what to learn next?

Download the exact curriculum that thousands of BaseLang students have used to become fluent in Spanish.

 

Download Guide Now!

10. Cuba

A vintage blue car with a CUBA license plate is parked on a sunlit street, capturing the timeless charm found in many Spanish Speaking Countries, with trees and a historic building in the background.

 

Highlights: Cruising around Havana in a car from the 1950s, cigar farms in Viñales, Cuba Libres & salsa in Trinidad, and beach time in Varadero.

11. Bolivia

boliva

 

Highlights: The salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, the infamous “death road” bicycle trail in La Paz, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon rainforest.

12. Dominican Republic

A person swims in clear turquoise water under a blue sky, evoking the beauty of Spanish speaking countries. Two sailboats drift on the calm sea beneath a few white clouds on the horizon.

 

Highlights: Cordillera Central trek, learning bachata in Santo Domingo, whale watching in Samaná Bay, and chilling at Playa Las Ballenas beach.

13. Honduras

Ancient stone ruins of a stepped Mayan structure with partially crumbled walls, nestled in the lush landscapes common to Spanish speaking countries, surrounded by green grass and trees under a bright sky.

 

Highlights: Ancient ruins of Copán, considered some of the best in Central America. Roatán and Utila if surfing or water activities is your thing.

14. Paraguay

Majestic waterfalls cascade over lush cliffs in one of the stunning Spanish speaking countries, shrouded in mist as the sun sets, painting the sky with vibrant hues. Dense forest surrounds the falls, with a viewing platform visible in the lower right.

 

Highlights: The Iguazu Falls, which borders Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, is one of the top tourist attractions in South America.

15. El Salvador

Sunset over the ocean in one of the beautiful Spanish speaking countries, with silhouettes of rocks and people swimming and walking along the sandy shoreline. The sky is clear, glowing with warm colors.

 

Highlights: Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site, a pre-Columbian Maya farming village somehow incredibly intact under layers of volcanic ash. Playa El Tunco beach for catching some waves and relaxing for a few days.

16. Nicaragua

A person slides down a steep, dark, sandy slope—reminiscent of barren landscapes in Spanish-speaking countries—creating a dusty trail behind them under a clear blue sky.

 

Highlights: Colonial vibes of Granada, nightlife in San Juan del Sur, surfing down the active “Cerro Negro” volcano at 93 km/hr in León.

17. Costa Rica

A lush tropical landscape in one of the Spanish speaking countries, with dense green vegetation and a tall palm tree in the foreground. In the distance, a volcano emits smoke under a partly cloudy sky, mist settling over the lower forest.

 

Highlights: Arenal Volcano national park, secluded beaches of Guanacaste, and the diversity of Corcovado National Park, an 11,000-acre rainforest.

18. Panama

Aerial view of large cargo ships passing through the Panama Canal locks, a vital trade route for Spanish speaking countries, with stacked containers, service buildings, cars, and lush greenery on both sides under a cloudy sky.

 

Highlights: The Panama Canal, which connects the Caribbean and Pacific, Casco Viejo district in Panama city, the coast for surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, or simply chilling by a Caribbean beach.

19. Uruguay

Large stone sculptures, shaped like four fingers and a thumb, rise from sandy ground beneath a clear blue sky—an iconic sight found in some Spanish-speaking countries, with a small palm tree visible in the background.

 

Highlights: Surfing in Punta del Diablo, strolling around the quaint Colonia del Sacramento, whale watching from the beaches of Piriápolis.

20. Puerto Rico

Lush green tropical rainforest covering rolling hills under a cloudy sky, reminiscent of the vibrant landscapes found in many Spanish Speaking Countries, with dense foliage and various shades of green vegetation.

 

Highlights: The 16-century Castillo San Felipe del Morro fortress jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, the historic old city of San Juan, the El Yunque tropical forest, and endless beaches.

21. Equatorial Guinea

The final Spanish-speaking country is located in….…AFRICA.

(Yes, it also took us by surprise.)

Around a third of the population in Equatorial Guinea speaks Spanish, while French, Fang, and Bubi are also spoken. The main part of the country is situated on the Atlantic Coast in central Africa, while the capital city of Malabo is on the island of Bioko off the coast of Cameroon.

Despite boasting a terrain that features plains, valleys, rainforests, and volcanoes, it seems like tourism hasn’t quite taken off, with Equatorial Guinea being among the least-visited countries in the world.

While there isn’t a whole pile of available information on traveling there, Equatorial Guinea is currently categorized as Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) by the US Department of State Travel Advisory, which means it’s pretty safe to travel there.

Bonus Country: the Philippines

A daytime cityscape of Manila with tall modern buildings, blue skies, and scattered clouds. Highlighting the influence of Spanish Speaking Countries, the word MANILA is prominently overlaid in large transparent letters across the image.

 

Ok, while the Philippines is no longer officially a Spanish speaking country these days, this wasn’t always the case.

Up until 1987, Spanish was a co-official language of the Philippines, along with English.

Although the language is on the decline since the change, Philippine Spanish (a variant of standard Spanish) is still popular with many locals continuing to speak it, and schools continuing to teach it.

Which means you may find pockets of Spanish speakers if you ever travel around the Philippines.

And if not, just hit the beaches.

Get our FREE 7-day email course, Shortcut to Conversational

The exact strategies you need to become conversational in Spanish this year. Join the course now, before we come to our senses and charge for it!

This blog is presented by BaseLang: Unlimited Spanish Tutoring for $179 a Month. Learn more here.