is it plural or singular?

[Kroquín! de Aries]

if i say:
the 82% of the population SPEAK/SPEAKS spanish...

which one should i use??

thanks

 

[jodie]

Speaks, because 82% is more than one person, right? I think. They both sound right now, the more I think about it. I'm like 49% that it is SPEAK and 51% that it is SPEAKS.