Duolingo CEO: Indonesia among Duolingo’s five fastest-growing markets

# What the CEO said Duolingo co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn told Indonesian creator Raditya Dika at Duolingo's New York office that Indonesia is one of the company's five fastest-growing markets globally by year-over-year growth in daily active users. He described Indonesian learners as strongly motivated and said Duolingo wants to support their ambitions in education, careers and international opportunity.

# Duolingo Duolingo's data shows Indonesian learners prioritize language study as part of their education. Compared with the global average, Indonesian users are 37% more likely to report "Support my education" as their motivation and 41% more likely to learn to spend time productively. These concrete motivations suggest users view language learning as an investment in skills rather than a hobby.

English remains the most-learned language among Indonesian users. Japanese and Chinese are consistently in the top three, with a notable surge in Chinese study: since 2023, the share of Indonesian daily active users learning Chinese has nearly tripled.

# Patterns of combined-language learning Indonesian users frequently study multiple languages at once. They are 4.15 times as likely as the global average to study English and Chinese together. Other common combinations include Japanese and Chinese (3.3 times the global average) and English and Japanese (2.8 times the global average). These patterns indicate learners are broadening interests beyond English into East Asian languages while continuing English study.

# Curriculum and practice that match learner goals Von Ahn linked Duolingo's mission—making education accessible—to growth in markets like Indonesia. He emphasized access for people who cannot afford to pay. To support learners aiming beyond basics, Duolingo has advanced its curriculum: nine popular courses now teach to B2 level. That provides a path for Indonesian learners, who are education-motivated, to progress toward higher proficiency suited for school or work.

The company also highlighted AI-powered conversation practice as a way to reduce speaking anxiety. Von Ahn said this feature helps learners practice speaking without fear of judgment, turning knowledge into usable speaking skills for real situations.

# A personal connection to Indonesia During the visit, von Ahn engaged in informal cultural exchange: he sampled Indonesian snacks, tried on a batik shirt gifted by Raditya Dika, and practiced basic Indonesian phrases like introductions and thanks. He noted prior travel to Bali and expressed interest in visiting other Indonesian islands. The interaction framed learning as curiosity and small steps—consistent with Duolingo's approach to user engagement.

# What this means for learners and Duolingo For Indonesian learners: the platform is offering deeper course levels and speaking practice options that align with education and career goals. For Duolingo: rising daily active user growth in Indonesia reflects high motivation and expanding interest in East Asian languages, particularly Chinese.