Top 20 Languages for YouTube Localization (Maximizing Views & Monetization)
Choose high‑impact languages by balancing audience size (views) and monetization (CPM). Use this ranked list to set a practical localization order and optimize titles/descriptions for every market.
Overview
In a global YouTube strategy, choosing the right languages can exponentially increase a channel’s reach and revenue. This ranking balances two key factors: (1) total audience reach (potential views) and (2) monetization potential (CPM/RPM). YouTube spans 80+ languages across 100+ countries, and non‑English audiences are growing quickly. Creators who localize into high‑priority languages routinely see large gains in views, watch time, and new revenue streams.
How to use this list
Pick a mix of scale and monetization. Start small, validate gains, and then expand to adjacent languages as you see traction.
- Start with 3–5 languages that best match your audience geography and niche.
- Localize in‑video elements (voiceover/dubbing and subtitles) where impactful, and always localize titles/descriptions for search and CTR.
- Iterate phrasing using country‑level analytics (CTR, AVD, retention by language).
Monetization differences
Ad rates differ widely by language and region. Generally, wealthier markets (e.g., German or French) earn a much higher CPM than developing regions. In practice, German can yield 5–6× the revenue per view compared to Hindi or Indonesian. A balanced rollout usually pairs one high‑RPM language with two scale languages to capture both revenue per view and total watch time.
Key metrics explained (quick)
- CPM (Cost per Mille): what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions in a market. Higher CPM = more revenue potential per view.
- RPM (Revenue per Mille): what you actually earn per 1,000 views after YouTube’s share and fill. RPM is the creator’s bottom‑line metric.
- CTR (Click‑through Rate): the share of impressions that turn into clicks. Native titles/descriptions usually raise CTR in each language.
- AVD (Average View Duration): how long viewers watch on average. Better phrasing and relevance often improve AVD and watch time.
If you’re deciding languages, combine a data‑driven pick with this ranking. To execute fast, follow the metadata workflow.
Comparison table
| Rank | Language | Primary Regions | YouTube Users (est.) | Approx. CPM (USD) | Notes / Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | United States, UK, Canada, global | ~1500 million | High ($4–$8+ in top markets) | Largest audience; highest CPM in US/UK/CA; very competitive. |
| 2 | Spanish | Spain, Latin America (Mexico, etc.) | ~500+ million | Moderate (Spain ~$5.6; LA ~$1–$2) | Mexico/Spain drive volume; CPM varies widely by country. |
| 3 | Hindi | India, Nepal, diaspora | ~600 million | Low (~$0.5–$0.7) | Huge audience; low CPM but unmatched view scale. |
| 4 | Portuguese | Brazil, Portugal, Angola | ~150+ million | Moderate (Brazil ~$1.6; Port ~$4) | Brazil’s massive base; highly engaged fandoms. |
| 5 | Arabic | Middle East, North Africa | ~180 million (e.g. Egypt 50M) | Moderate (varies by country) | Pan‑regional reach; mid CPM overall. |
| 6 | Russian | Russia, CIS (Ukraine, Kazakh, etc.) | ~100 million+ (est.) | Low‑Mid (~$1.3) | Large CIS viewership; policies impact monetization in some regions. |
| 7 | Japanese | Japan | ~79 million | High (~$3–$5) | Top value market; strong spend and loyalty. |
| 8 | Indonesian | Indonesia (also Malaysia’s Malay) | ~143 million | Low (~$0.6) | Top‑5 user base; low CPM; big trending upside. |
| 9 | German | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | ~70 million | Very High (~$3.5–$9.8) | Smaller audience but very high CPM; strong RPM lift. |
| 10 | French | France, Canada (QC), Africa | ~50 million (France) | High (~$2.5–$6.7) | EU/Canada core plus diaspora; solid monetization. |
| 11 | Korean | South Korea | ~43 million | High (upper tier) | Affluent and highly connected; loyal audiences. |
| 12 | Vietnamese | Vietnam | ~62 million | Low (~$0.6) | Rapid growth and engagement; low CPM. |
| 13 | Italian | Italy | ~42 million | High (~$4+) | Strong EU market; passionate niches. |
| 14 | Filipino (Tagalog) | Philippines | ~58 million | Low‑Moderate (~$0.8) | Large PH audience + diaspora; mid/low CPM. |
| 15 | Turkish | Turkey | ~57 million | Low (~$0.5) | Big national audience; great for watch time. |
| 16 | Urdu | Pakistan | ~56 million | Very Low (~$0.5 or less) | Very low CPM; expands total views significantly. |
| 17 | Thai | Thailand | ~48 million | Low (~$0.5–$0.8) | Exceptionally high YouTube engagement; mid/low CPM. |
| 18 | Bengali | Bangladesh, Eastern India | ~45 million | Very Low (~$0.5) | Huge scale play; monetization is minimal per view. |
| 19 | Chinese (Mandarin) | Taiwan, HK, SG, diaspora | ~30 million+ (est.) | Mid (~$1–$3) | TW/HK/SG + diaspora; mainland PRC excluded. |
| 20 | Polish | Poland | ~28 million (est.) | Mid (~$1.4) | Active EU audience; solid RPM vs mega‑audience languages. |
Action plan
A tight month is enough to prove value. Follow this cadence to launch, measure, and iterate without over‑investing.
- Pick 3–5 languages using your analytics (views by country × CPM index × trend).
- Localize in‑video elements as needed and always localize titles/descriptions per language.
- Publish localized metadata and monitor CTR and retention by language; iterate wording.
- Expand to the next batch of videos and repeat the measurement loop.
Notes: All figures are approximate and vary by niche. This guide highlights where localization often delivers the biggest impact on views and monetization.
For a full workflow after you choose languages, see How to Fully Localize a YouTube Video (End‑to‑End).
Tip: Pair one high‑RPM language with two scale languages to balance revenue per view and total watch time.
Ready to roll out? Use ReTranslate for YouTube to localize titles/descriptions for the top languages on your list.
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