Ngo-1999 kwakukho, ngokutsho Ethnologue, yezigidi 358 abantu abathetha iSpanish njengolwimi lweenkobe kunye lilonke labantu abathetha million 417 ehlabathini lonke. Okwangoku, le amaxabiso ukuya ku 400 kunye nabantu million 500 ngokulandelelanayo. Spanish lelona lwimi ezithethwa yesibini ehlabathini, emva Mandarin. Mexico iqulethe inabantu abaninzi ulwimi-ukuthetha. Spanish yenye kwiilwimi ezintandathu ezisemthethweni yeZizwe eziManyeneyo (UN) yaye usetyenziswa njengolwimi olusemthethweni European Union, Mercosur kunye Union of South American yeZizwe (UNASUR).