Which of the following languages is considered the most spoken in the world?

The correct choice of Chinese as the most spoken language in the world is based on its vast number of native speakers. China has a large population, and Mandarin Chinese is the most commonly spoken dialect. This results in a significant number of people using it as their first language. Additionally, its usage extends beyond China, as many Chinese speakers live in various countries around the globe due to migration and diasporic communities.

While English is widely used as a global lingua franca, especially in business and international communication, its number of native speakers is less than that of Chinese. Spanish has a substantial number of native speakers too, mainly in the Americas and Spain, but it does not reach the level of Chinese. French, while an important global language, also has fewer native speakers compared to the aforementioned languages.

Thus, the recognition of Chinese as the most spoken language highlights the demographic factors that contribute to language prevalence worldwide.