Languages in education

UNESCO believes everyone has the right to learn in their own language and that it is an important means to improving learning, learning outcomes and socio-emotional development. But globally 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. Cultural and linguistic diversity also play a key role in sustainable societies and help build peace, tolerance and respect for difference.

Key figures

About 6,700

languages

are spoken around the world today

40 per cent

of the world’s population

cannot access education in a language they speak or understand

6 years

of mother-tongue

instruction is needed to reduce learning gaps for minority language speakers

40 per cent

of the estimated 6,700 languages

spoken in 2016 were in danger of disappearing

International Mother Language Day 2022: technology-enabled multilingual education: challenges and opportunities

UNESCO

2022

UNESCO

Ensuring inclusive education for ethnolinguistic minority children in the COVID-19 era: guidance note

UNESCO Bangkok Office

2021

Support for this publication was provided by the Global Partnership for Education

2020 International Mother Language Day: role and contribution of cross-border languages and trans-border languages in promoting linguistic and cultural diversity

UNESCO

2021

UNESCO