Jakarta, ThedailyID — French is one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. More than 320 million people use French across several continents, according to the International Organization of La Francophonie.
Many people associate French with France. However, the language serves as an official or widely used language in dozens of countries, especially in Africa.
Today, 29 countries use French as an official language either exclusively or alongside other languages.
Here are the 29 countries:
Africa
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Niger
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Togo
Europe
- France
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
North America and Caribbean
- Canada
- Haiti
Pacific
- Vanuatu
Africa accounts for the largest concentration of French-speaking countries. The continent is also home to the fastest-growing French-speaking population in the world.
Experts project that Africa will become the center of the global French-speaking community in the coming decades. Population growth and expanding education systems continue to drive the language’s spread across the region.
French remains one of the six official languages of the United Nations and plays a major role in diplomacy, education, business, and international organizations.
