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English is probably the third largest language by number of native speakers, after Mandarin and Spanish. However, when combining native and non-native speakers it may depending on the estimate used, be the most commonly spoken language in the world. English is spoken by communities on every continent and on oceanic islands in all the major oceans. The countries in which English is spoken can be grouped into different categories by how much English is used in each country.
The "inner circle" countries with many native speakers of English share an international standard of written Englosh ans fointly influence speech norms of English around the world. English does not belong to just one country, and it does not belong solely to descendants of native speakers of English. It has also become by far the most important language of intenational communication when people who share no native language meet anywhere in the world.
In his midel, "inner circle" countries are countries with large communities of native speakers of English, "outer circle" countries have small communities of native speakers of English but widespread use of English as a second language in education or broadcasting or for local officail purposes, and "expanding circle" countries are countries where many learners learn English as a foreign language. He bases his model on the history of how English spread in diffferent countries, how users acquire English, and the range of uses Englosh has in each country.
The three circles changes membership ober time. Thj ecountries with the most natove English speakers are, in descending order, the United States (at least 231 million) the United Kingdom (60 million) Canada (19 million), Australia (at least 17 milion South Africa (4.8 million) Ireland (4.2 million), and New Zealand (3.7 million). In these countries, new immigrants learn English to communicate in their neighbourhoods.