Page Type: languageSpanish | Ethnologue

SPA ISO 639-3

Spanish

Castellano, Español Autonym

A language of Spain

spa
Castilian
Castellano, Español
46,490,000 in Spain, all users. L1 users: 41,900,000 in Spain (2019). L2 users: 4,590,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 542,863,810 (as L1: 471,366,670; as L2: 71,497,140).
Widespread.
1 (National). Statutory national language (1978, Constitution, Article 3(1)), recognized statutory language in all autonomous cities and communities under various local laws.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Andalusian (Andalusí, Andaluz, Andalú), Aragonese, Murcian, Navarrese, Castilian (Castellano), Canary Islands Spanish (Isleño), Silbo Gomero, Latin American Spanish. Lexical similarity: 89% with Portuguese [por], 85% with Catalan [cat], 82% with Italian [ita], 76% with Sardinian [src], 75% with French [fra], 74% with Ladin [lld] and Romansh [roh], 71% with Romanian [ron].
SVO; prepositions; genitives, relatives after noun heads; articles, numerals before noun heads; adjectives before or after noun heads depending on whether it is evaluative or descriptive; question word initial; gender (masculine/feminine); definite and indefinite articles; verb affixes mark number, person; passives; tense; comparatives; 20 consonants, 5 vowels, 5 diphthongs; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable. Silbo Gomero whistled variety of Spanish used in Canary Islands.
Some also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006). Some also use French [fra] (European Commission 2006).
Fully developed. Bible: 1553–2012.
OLAC resources in and about Spanish
Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
The Aragonese dialect of Spanish is different from Aragonese language [arg]. Christian.
Spanish
44,200 in Andorra, all users. L1 users: 27,300 in Andorra (2019). L2 users: 16,900 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Widespread.
3 (Wider communication)
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Spanish
45,160,000 in Argentina, all users. L1 users: 44,000,000 in Argentina (2020). L2 users: 1,160,000 (2020).
Portuñol (Portunhol), Rioplatense Spanish (Argentine-Uruguayan Spanish, Español argentino-uruguayo, Español rioplatense), Lunfardo, Porteño, Andean Spanish (Español andino). Andean Spanish is spoken in northwestern Argentina.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
299,980 in Austria, all users. L1 users: 9,980 in Austria (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 290,000 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
595,000 in Australia, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Australia (2016 census). L2 users: 454,000 (2020).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
84,700 in Aruba, all users. L1 users: 15,300 in Aruba (2019 World Factbook). L2 users: 69,400 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).
Scattered.
4 (Educational)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
667,300 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 95,300 in Belgium (2020). L2 users: 572,000 (2020).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
128,000 in Bulgaria (2019), L2 users.
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
11,470,000 in Bolivia, all users. L1 users: 9,520,000 in Bolivia (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 1,950,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Afro-Yungueño (Black Spanish), Andean Spanish (Español andino).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
1,480 in Caribbean Netherlands (2001 census). Bonaire 1,270, Sint Eustatius 130, Saba 70.
Bonaire.
3 (Wider communication)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
6,107,000 in Brazil, all users. L1 users: 507,000 in Brazil (2019). L2 users: 5,600,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
4 (Educational)
Non-indigenous. Spanish and English are the most common second languages available for students’ foreign language requirement (students have the option to take two foreign languages in school).
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Spanish
201,000 in Belize, all users. L1 users: 165,000 in Belize (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 36,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo districts.
Central American Spanish (Castellano centroamericano, Español centroamericano).
3 (Wider communication)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
565,000 in Canada, all users. L1 users: 459,000 in Canada (2016 census). L2 users: 106,000 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
140,300 in Switzerland, all users. L1 users: 124,000 in Switzerland (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 16,300 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
302,000 in Côte d’Ivoire (2019), L2 users.
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
19,083,000 in Chile, all users. L1 users: 18,300,000 in Chile (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 783,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Andean Spanish (Español andino), Chilean Spanish (Español chileno). Andean Spanish is spoken in northern Chile.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
18,300 in China, all users. L1 users: 5,000 in China (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 13,300 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
48,984,000 in Colombia, all users. L1 users: 48,900,000 in Colombia (2019). L2 users: 84,000 (2019).
Colombian Spanish (Español colombiano), Andean Spanish. Colombian Spanish is closely related to other varieties of Caribbean Spanish. Andean Spanish is spoken in southern Colombia.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
5,055,400 in Costa Rica, all users. L1 users: 5,020,000 in Costa Rica (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 35,400 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Central American Spanish (Castellano centroamericano, Español centroamericano).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
11,122,800 in Cuba, all users. L1 users: 11,100,000 in Cuba (2018). L2 users: 22,800 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Cuban Spanish (Español cubano). Cuban Spanish is closely related to other varieties of Caribbean Spanish.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
8,960 in Curacao (2018 World Factbook).
Scattered.
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
17,120 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 520 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 16,600 (2018).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
39,220 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 1,920 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 37,300 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
2,876,000 in Germany, all users. L1 users: 286,000 in Germany (2018 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 2,590,000 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
252,000 in Denmark, all users. L1 users: 19,000 in Denmark (2020 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 233,000 (2020).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
10,464,200 in Dominican Republic, all users. L1 users: 10,400,000 in Dominican Republic (2020). L2 users: 64,200 (2020).
Dominican Spanish (Español dominicano). Dominican Spanish is closely related to other varieties of Caribbean Spanish.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
223,000 in Algeria, all users. L1 users: 175,000 in Algeria (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 48,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
16,990,000 in Ecuador, all users. L1 users: 16,100,000 in Ecuador (2019). L2 users: 890,000 (2019).
Andean Spanish (Español andino).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous. Christian.
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Spanish
22,000 in Western Sahara (Instituto Cervantes 2019), L2 users.
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
98,300 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 8,100 in Finland (2018 census). L2 users: 90,200 (2020).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
6,451,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 461,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 5,990,000 (2020).
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Marseilles and Nice.
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
4,294,000 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 134,000 in United Kingdom (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 4,160,000 (2018).
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
16,650 in Gibraltar, all users. L1 users: 1,250 in Gibraltar (2019). L2 users: 15,400 (2019).
Widespread.
Llanito (Yanito).
3 (Wider communication)
Yanito is spoken by most Gibraltarians among themselves, a variety of Spanish with a strong English [eng] influence, with over 500 words coming from Genoese (Ligurian) [lig] and Hebrew [heb].
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Spanish
318,000 in Equatorial Guinea, all users. L1 users: Few L1 users. L2 users: 318,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Widespread.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
15,840,000 in Guatemala, all users. L1 users: 12,100,000 in Guatemala (2018 World Factbook). L2 users: 3,740,000 (2018).
Central American Spanish (Castellano centroamericano, Español centroamericano).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
21,700 in Guam, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Guam (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 20,500 (2018).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
6,950 in Guinea-Bissau (2015 UNSD), L2 users.
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
9,159,000 in Honduras, all users. L1 users: 9,040,000 in Honduras (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 119,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Central American Spanish (Castellano centroamericano, Español centroamericano).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
67,100 in Croatia (2018), L2 users.
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
146,920 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,920 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 144,000 (2018).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
175,000 in Israel, all users. L1 users: 130,000 in Israel (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 45,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
2,295,000 in Italy, all users. L1 users: 255,000 in Italy (2012 census). L2 users: 2,040,000 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
8,000 in Jamaica (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
168,000 in Japan, all users. L1 users: 108,000 in Japan (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 60,000 (2013).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
2,190 in Cayman Islands (2012 UNSD).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
22,300 in Lebanon (2020).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
9,270 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 3,780 in Luxembourg (2011 census). L2 users: 5,490 (2019).
Scattered.
4 (Educational)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
1,666,590 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 6,590 in Morocco (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 1,660,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Scattered on north coast.
7 (Shifting)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
7,760 in Malta (2018).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
125,000,000 in Mexico, all users. L1 users: 117,000,000 in Mexico (2019). L2 users: 8,000,000 (2019).
Mexican Spanish (Español mexicano).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
6,344,000 in Nicaragua, all users. L1 users: 6,160,000 in Nicaragua (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 184,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Central American Spanish (Castellano centroamericano, Español centroamericano).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
705,700 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 18,700 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 687,000 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
51,300 in Norway, all users. L1 users: 27,300 in Norway (2021 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 24,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
62,900 in New Zealand, all users. L1 users: 27,000 in New Zealand (2013 census). L2 users: 35,900 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
4,222,000 in Panama, all users. L1 users: 3,880,000 in Panama (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 342,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Widespread.
Panamanian Spanish (Español panameño). Panamanian Spanish is closely related to other varieties of Caribbean Spanish.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
28,120,000 in Peru, all users. L1 users: 25,900,000 in Peru (2019). L2 users: 2,220,000 (2019).
Andean Spanish (Español andino).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
465,330 in Philippines, all users. L1 users: 3,330 in Philippines (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 462,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Major cities.
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous. Christian.
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Spanish
315,640 in Poland, all users. L1 users: 4,640 in Poland (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 311,000 (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
3,112,000 in Puerto Rico, all users. L1 users: 3,080,000 in Puerto Rico (2020). L2 users: 32,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Puerto Rican Spanish (Español puertorriqueño). Puerto Rican Spanish is closely related to other varieties of Caribbean Spanish.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous. Some dialects considered archaic.
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Spanish
706,330 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 9,330 in Portugal (2019). L2 users: 697,000 (2019).
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
6,700,000 in Paraguay, all users. L1 users: 4,430,000 in Paraguay (2020). L2 users: 2,270,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Asunción department: urban areas.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
476,000 in Romania (2018), L2 users.
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
35,100 in Russian Federation, all users. L1 users: 3,000 in Russian Federation (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 32,100 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
518,400 in Sweden, all users. L1 users: 24,400 in Sweden (2020 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 494,000 (2020).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
3,300 in Suriname (2018).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
6,479,200 in El Salvador, all users. L1 users: 6,460,000 in El Salvador (2019). L2 users: 19,200 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Widespread.
Central American Spanish (Castellano centroamericano, Español centroamericano).
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
5,470 in Sint Maarten (2019 World Factbook).
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
1,300 in Turks and Caicos Islands (2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
16,000 in Turkey, all users. L1 users: 1,000 in Turkey (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 15,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
70,400 in Trinidad and Tobago, all users. L1 users: 4,000 in Trinidad and Tobago (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 66,400 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Trinidad: Siparia municipality, southern peninsula, fishing villages.
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
59,600,000 in United States, all users. L1 users: 43,800,000 in United States (2019). L2 users: 15,800,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Widespread.
Chicano (Caló), Isleño Spanish (Isleno, Islenyo, Isleño), New Mexican Spanish (Español neomexicano, Novomexicano). In 2019, there may be only about 17 native speakers and many more semi-speakers and rememberers of Isleño Spanish, a distinct variety of Canary Island Spanish (2020 A. Miloshoff).
2 (Provincial)
Non-indigenous. Population increased 61% or more since 1970.
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Spanish
3,485,700 in Uruguay, all users. L1 users: 3,430,000 in Uruguay (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 55,700 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Rioplatense Spanish (Argentine-Uruguayan Spanish, Español argentino-uruguayo, Español rioplatense), Lunfardo.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
28,162,000 in Venezuela, all users. L1 users: 27,500,000 in Venezuela (2019). L2 users: 662,000 (2019).
Venezuelan Spanish (Español venezolano), Andean Spanish. Venezuelan Spanish is closely related to other varieties of Caribbean Spanish. Andean Spanish is spoken in western Venezuela.
1 (National)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
3,000 in British Virgin Islands (2019).
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous.
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Spanish
16,800 in U.S. Virgin Islands (Instituto Cervantes 2019).
Saint Croix.
5 (Dispersed)
Non-indigenous. Most Spanish speakers are descendants of Puerto Ricans who setted on Saint Croix island more than a generation ago.
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Location: Widespread.