fbpx
Wikipedia

List of countries and territories where French is an official language

December 18, 2023

French is an official language in 28 independent nations. The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where French is an official or de facto language.

  Regions where French is a majority native language
  Regions where French is an official or administrative language but not a majority native language
  Regions where French is an unofficial secondary language

Only official language edit

Countries edit

List of countries where French is the only official language:

Non-sovereign entities edit

Co-official use edit

Sovereign states edit

In many countries, French is used as a co-official language alongside one or more other languages. List of countries where French is a co-official language:

 
Countries in the world with French as an official language.

National subdivisions edit

Officially recognized status edit

List of countries and territories that grant certain constitutional rights to the French language:

Intergovernmental organizations edit

 
The Francophonie flag flying at the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa

French is an official language, mostly in conjunction with English, of 36 international organisations. These include:

Countries edit

This table shows the total populations of the countries, not the number of French speakers – most of these countries have a majority that do not speak French.

No. Country Continent Population[5]
1. Democratic Republic of Congo Africa 105,044,646
2. France Europe 68,051,000
3. Canada North America 38,653,740
4. Madagascar Africa 24,235,400
5. Cameroon Africa 23,345,200
6. Côte d'Ivoire Africa 22,701,600
7. Niger Africa 19,899,100
8. Burkina Faso Africa 18,105,600
9. Senegal Africa 15,129,300
10. Chad Africa 14,037,500
11. Guinea Africa 12,608,600
12. Rwanda Africa 11,607,700
13. Belgium Europe 11,358,357
14. Burundi Africa 11,178,900
15. Benin Africa 10,879,800
16. Haiti Caribbean 10,711,100
17. Switzerland Europe 8,510,000
18. Togo Africa 7,304,600
19. Central African Republic Africa 4,900,300
20. Congo Africa 4,620,300
21. Gabon Africa 1,725,300
22. Equatorial Guinea Africa 1,221,490
23. Djibouti Africa 887,861
24. Comoros Africa 795,601
25. Luxembourg Europe 602,900
26. Vanuatu Oceania 264,652
27. Seychelles Africa 92,900
28. Monaco Europe 38,731
Total All countries World c. 490,444,060

Dependent entities edit

Nr. Entity Continent Population Status
1. French Polynesia Oceania 284,060 Overseas collectivity and overseas country of France.
2. New Caledonia Oceania 267,000 Collectivity of France with special status
3. Aosta Valley Europe 128,000 Autonomous region of Italy
4. Saint-Martin North America 37,264 Overseas collectivity of France
5. Wallis and Futuna Oceania 15,289 Overseas collectivity of France
6. Saint-Barthélemy North America 9,131 Overseas collectivity of France
7. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon North America 5,888 Overseas collectivity of France

Note: Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Mayotte are classified as overseas regions of France and are thus not a part of this list. While not de jure official, the U.S. states of Louisiana and Maine recognize the usage of French in law, governance, and commerce and allow state services and publicly funded education in the language, rendering it de facto official alongside English.[6][4]

Non-official but significant language edit

While French is not an official language in these countries, it is widely used in administration and many professional sectors, as well as being highly influential as a cultural language in the local society and has certain privileges in the education system.

Country Continent Population (2023)[7] Usage of French
Algeria Africa 44,758,398 Administrative, commercial, cultural, educational, de facto official language[8]
Cambodia Asia 16,891,245 Administrative (particularly judicial and diplomacy), cultural, some educational[9][10]
Laos Asia 7,852,377 Administrative, commercial, cultural, educational[11][12]
Lebanon Asia 5,331,203 De jure second language[1]
Mali Africa 21,359,722 Administrative (de facto official), educational[13][14]
Mauritania Africa 4,244,878 De facto second official language, educational[15]
Mauritius Africa 1,309,448 Administrative (de facto official), cultural, educational[2]
Morocco Africa 37,067,420 Administrative, commercial, cultural, educational, de facto official language[16][17]
Tunisia Africa 11,976,182 Administrative, commercial, cultural, educational, de facto official language[18]
Vietnam Asia 99,460,000 Administrative (diplomatic), cultural, some educational, working language in medicine, science, and law[19][20]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Axel Tschentscher, LL.M. "Article 11 of the Lebanese Constitution". Servat.unibe.ch. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b Article 49 in the Constitution of Mauritius. ilo.org
  3. ^ French's Legal Status In Louisiana, Conseil pour le développement du Français en Louisiane (CODOFIL)
  4. ^ a b "Ici on parle français", Report of the Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resources, Maine State Legislature Law and Legislative Reference Library, December 1997
  5. ^ "Google Public Data Explorer". World Bank. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  6. ^ Ward, Roger K. The French Language in Louisiana Law and Legal Education: A Requiem, Louisiana Law Review, 1997
  7. ^ World Population 2023, The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency
  8. ^ (PDF). Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2013. () p. 9 "Nous y agrégeons néanmoins quelques données disponibles pour des pays n'appartenant pas à l'OIF mais dont nous savons, comme pour l'Algérie (11,2 millions en 20081
  9. ^ Aménagement linguistique dans le monde - Cambodge, Université Laval (in French)
  10. ^ Richardson, Michael (16 October 1993). "French Declines in Indochina, as English Booms". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  11. ^ Aménagement linguistique dans le monde - Laos, Université Laval (in French)
  12. ^ Richardson, Michael (16 October 1993). "French Declines in Indochina, as English Booms". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  13. ^ Mali's new constitution adopted after court validation, Radio France Internationale, 22 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Journal Officiel de la République du Mali Secretariat du Général du Governement - Decret DECRET N°2023-0401/PT-RM du 22 Juillet 2023 pourtant promulgation de la Constitution" (PDF). sgg-mali.ml. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Mauritania". Ethnologue.
  16. ^ "Morocco". World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 14 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Présentation du Maroc". Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères (in French).
  18. ^ Samy Ghorbal, «Le français a-t-il encore un avenir ? », Jeune Afrique, 27 April 2008, pp. 77-78
  19. ^ Duc Tri-Quê Anh. Promouvoir l’enseignement du français au Vietnam, Le Courrier du Vietnam, 7 March 2022. (in French)
  20. ^ Kirkpatrick, Andy and Anthony J. Liddicoat, The Routledge International Handbook of Language Education Policy in Asia., Routledge, 2019, p. 192

December 18, 2023
list, countries, territories, where, french, official, language, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, new. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources List of countries and territories where French is an official language news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message French is an official language in 28 independent nations The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where French is an official or de facto language Regions where French is a majority native language Regions where French is an official or administrative language but not a majority native language Regions where French is an unofficial secondary language Contents 1 Only official language 1 1 Countries 1 2 Non sovereign entities 2 Co official use 2 1 Sovereign states 2 2 National subdivisions 3 Officially recognized status 4 Intergovernmental organizations 5 Countries 6 Dependent entities 7 Non official but significant language 8 See also 9 ReferencesOnly official language editCountries edit List of countries where French is the only official language Benin Burkina Faso Congo Democratic Republic of Congo Ivory Coast France Metropolitan amp Overseas France Gabon Guinea Monaco Niger Senegal Togo Non sovereign entities edit Geneva Switzerland Jura Switzerland Neuchatel Switzerland Quebec Canada Vaud Switzerland Valais SwitzerlandCo official use editSovereign states edit In many countries French is used as a co official language alongside one or more other languages List of countries where French is a co official language nbsp Countries in the world with French as an official language Belgium Burundi Cameroon Canada Chad Central African Republic Comoros Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Haiti Luxembourg Madagascar Rwanda Seychelles Switzerland Vanuatu National subdivisions edit Aosta Valley Italy Bern Switzerland Brussels Belgium Fribourg Switzerland New Brunswick Canada Northwest Territories Canada Nunavut Canada Puducherry India Valais Switzerland Wallonia Belgium Yukon CanadaOfficially recognized status editList of countries and territories that grant certain constitutional rights to the French language Lebanon 1 Mauritius 2 Louisiana 3 Maine 4 Intergovernmental organizations edit nbsp The Francophonie flag flying at the Parliament of Canada in OttawaFrench is an official language mostly in conjunction with English of 36 international organisations These include Francophonie United Nations International Olympic Committee European Union African Union NATO World Trade Organization Council of EuropeCountries editThis table shows the total populations of the countries not the number of French speakers most of these countries have a majority that do not speak French No Country Continent Population 5 1 Democratic Republic of Congo Africa 105 044 6462 France Europe 68 051 0003 Canada North America 38 653 7404 Madagascar Africa 24 235 4005 Cameroon Africa 23 345 2006 Cote d Ivoire Africa 22 701 6007 Niger Africa 19 899 1008 Burkina Faso Africa 18 105 6009 Senegal Africa 15 129 30010 Chad Africa 14 037 50011 Guinea Africa 12 608 60012 Rwanda Africa 11 607 70013 Belgium Europe 11 358 35714 Burundi Africa 11 178 90015 Benin Africa 10 879 80016 Haiti Caribbean 10 711 10017 Switzerland Europe 8 510 00018 Togo Africa 7 304 60019 Central African Republic Africa 4 900 30020 Congo Africa 4 620 30021 Gabon Africa 1 725 30022 Equatorial Guinea Africa 1 221 49023 Djibouti Africa 887 86124 Comoros Africa 795 60125 Luxembourg Europe 602 90026 Vanuatu Oceania 264 65227 Seychelles Africa 92 90028 Monaco Europe 38 731Total All countries World c 490 444 060Dependent entities editNr Entity Continent Population Status1 French Polynesia Oceania 284 060 Overseas collectivity and overseas country of France 2 New Caledonia Oceania 267 000 Collectivity of France with special status3 Aosta Valley Europe 128 000 Autonomous region of Italy4 Saint Martin North America 37 264 Overseas collectivity of France5 Wallis and Futuna Oceania 15 289 Overseas collectivity of France6 Saint Barthelemy North America 9 131 Overseas collectivity of France7 Saint Pierre and Miquelon North America 5 888 Overseas collectivity of FranceNote Reunion Guadeloupe Martinique French Guiana and Mayotte are classified as overseas regions of France and are thus not a part of this list While not de jure official the U S states of Louisiana and Maine recognize the usage of French in law governance and commerce and allow state services and publicly funded education in the language rendering it de facto official alongside English 6 4 Non official but significant language editWhile French is not an official language in these countries it is widely used in administration and many professional sectors as well as being highly influential as a cultural language in the local society and has certain privileges in the education system Country Continent Population 2023 7 Usage of FrenchAlgeria Africa 44 758 398 Administrative commercial cultural educational de facto official language 8 Cambodia Asia 16 891 245 Administrative particularly judicial and diplomacy cultural some educational 9 10 Laos Asia 7 852 377 Administrative commercial cultural educational 11 12 Lebanon Asia 5 331 203 De jure second language 1 Mali Africa 21 359 722 Administrative de facto official educational 13 14 Mauritania Africa 4 244 878 De facto second official language educational 15 Mauritius Africa 1 309 448 Administrative de facto official cultural educational 2 Morocco Africa 37 067 420 Administrative commercial cultural educational de facto official language 16 17 Tunisia Africa 11 976 182 Administrative commercial cultural educational de facto official language 18 Vietnam Asia 99 460 000 Administrative diplomatic cultural some educational working language in medicine science and law 19 20 See also editGeographical distribution of French speakers Francophonie List of international organisations which have French as an official languageReferences edit a b Axel Tschentscher LL M Article 11 of the Lebanese Constitution Servat unibe ch Retrieved 17 January 2013 a b Article 49 in the Constitution of Mauritius ilo org French s Legal Status In Louisiana Conseil pour le developpement du Francais en Louisiane CODOFIL a b Ici on parle francais Report of the Commission to Study the Development of Maine s Franco American Resources Maine State Legislature Law and Legislative Reference Library December 1997 Google Public Data Explorer World Bank Retrieved 16 November 2016 Ward Roger K The French Language in Louisiana Law and Legal Education A Requiem Louisiana Law Review 1997 World Population 2023 The World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency Le denombrement des francophones PDF Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Archived from the original PDF on 12 October 2013 p 9 Nous y agregeons neanmoins quelques donnees disponibles pour des pays n appartenant pas a l OIF mais dont nous savons comme pour l Algerie 11 2 millions en 20081 Amenagement linguistique dans le monde Cambodge Universite Laval in French Richardson Michael 16 October 1993 French Declines in Indochina as English Booms International Herald Tribune Retrieved 2018 11 18 Amenagement linguistique dans le monde Laos Universite Laval in French Richardson Michael 16 October 1993 French Declines in Indochina as English Booms International Herald Tribune Retrieved 2018 11 18 Mali s new constitution adopted after court validation Radio France Internationale 22 July 2023 Journal Officiel de la Republique du Mali Secretariat du General du Governement Decret DECRET N 2023 0401 PT RM du 22 Juillet 2023 pourtant promulgation de la Constitution PDF sgg mali ml 22 July 2023 Retrieved 2 August 2023 Mauritania Ethnologue Morocco World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency 14 July 2023 Presentation du Maroc Ministere de l Europe et des Affaires etrangeres in French Samy Ghorbal Le francais a t il encore un avenir Jeune Afrique 27 April 2008 pp 77 78 Duc Tri Que Anh Promouvoir l enseignement du francais au Vietnam Le Courrier du Vietnam 7 March 2022 in French Kirkpatrick Andy and Anthony J Liddicoat The Routledge International Handbook of Language Education Policy in Asia Routledge 2019 p 192 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of countries and territories where French is an official language amp oldid 1190589032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.