How Many Individuals Converse French? A Full Breakdown by Nation
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Do you know French is among the most spoken languages on this planet? And it’s one of many solely languages with audio system on each continent! Check out the numbers to find how many individuals converse French and the place they dwell.
How many individuals converse French on this planet?
A whole bunch of thousands and thousands of individuals around the globe converse French as their native or second language (or third, or fourth!).
In response to the Group of Worldwide Francophonie (OIF), as of 2022:
- Simply over 320 million individuals converse French worldwide.
- There are an estimated 220 million native French audio system on this planet.
- French is the language of instruction for 93 million college students.
- Round 51 million persons are presently studying French.
- About 3.6 p.c of the world’s inhabitants speaks French.
- French is the fifth most spoken language on this planet.
Nations with essentially the most French audio system
The nation with essentially the most French audio system is, after all, France, however there are thousands and thousands of audio system outdoors of France and Europe. In all, there are 74 French-speaking international locations. Some record French as their official language, whereas others simply have giant populations of French audio system.
These are the highest 10 international locations with essentially the most French audio system based mostly on knowledge collected within the 2022 report from OIF, together with native audio system and individuals who converse French as a second language.
- France: 63,394,000
- Democratic Republic of Congo: 48,925,000
- Algeria: 14,904,000
- Morocco: 13,457,000
- Germany: 12,298,000
- Italy: 11,797,000
- Cameroon: 11,491,000
- United Kingdom: 11,281,000
- Canada: 11,061,000
- Ivory Coast: 9,325,000
How many individuals converse French in Africa?
There are 20 French-speaking international locations in Africa that record French as their official or co-official language.
Every nation is listed right here with its estimated variety of present French audio system from the 2022 OIF report:
- Bénin: 4,306,000
- Burkina Faso: 5,404,000
- Burundi (co-official): 1,074,000
- Cameroon (co-official): 11,491,000
- Central African Republic (co-official): 1,435,000
- Chad (co-official): 2,249,000
- Comoros (co-official): 237,000
- Congo: 3,518,000
- Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast): 9,325,000
- Democratic Republic of Congo: 48,925,000
- Djibouti (co-official): 508,000
- Equatorial Guinea (co-official): 433,000
- Gabon: 1,519,000
- Madagascar (co-official): 7,729,000
- Niger: 3,363,000
- Rwanda (co-official): 793,000
- Sénégal: 4,640,000
- Seychelles (co-official): 53,000
- The Republic of Guinea: 3,777,000
- Togo: 3,554,000
An estimated 61% of each day French audio system reside on the African continent. Even in international locations the place it’s not the official language, French is used because the language of instruction or as an administrative language.
How many individuals converse French in Europe?
Simply over 31% of Europeans converse French, in accordance with the OIF 2022 report. And French is among the 24 official languages of the European Union (EU). However there are solely 5 French-speaking international locations of Europe with French as their official language.
The francophone international locations in Europe with essentially the most French audio system or with French as an official language are:
- Autriche (Austria): 1,166,000
- Belgique (Belgium; official language): 8,815,000
- Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles: 4,573,000
- France (official language): 63,394,000
- Luxembourg (official language): 591,000
- Monaco (official language): 39,000
- Roumanie: 2,282,000
- Suisse (Switzerland; official language): 5,889,000
Between France and Monaco—the one two European international locations to have French as the only real official language—there are round 63 million native French audio system. French can be one of many official languages of a number of worldwide organizations headquartered in Europe together with the Worldwide Olympic Committee, the Worldwide Legal Court docket, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and extra.
Quantity of people that converse French within the Americas
In North America, most French audio system reside in Canada. Throughout the US, most French audio system dwell within the state of Louisiana.
How many individuals converse French in Canada?
In response to their authorities, about 21% of Canadians converse French as their first language, which equates to about 11 million individuals. The vast majority of these French audio system reside in Québec.
- Nouveau-Brunswick: 327,000
- Ontario: 1,711,000
- Québec: 8,021,000
How many individuals converse French within the Caribbean?
French is among the six official languages within the Caribbean, however just one French-speaking nation within the Caribbean lists it as its official language—Haiti. Nevertheless, there are additionally French territories within the Caribbean with French as their official language.
- Guadeloupe: 336,000
- Guyane française (French Guiana): 195,000
- Haiti: 4,906,000
- Martinique: 303,000
- Saint-Barthélemy: 8,000
- Saint-Martin: 33,000
How many individuals converse French within the US?
Most French audio system in america reside within the state of Louisiana. The 2022 OIF report suggests about 84,000 individuals, or 2% of Louisiana’s inhabitants, converse French, with most of them residing in or across the New Orleans space. Out of that inhabitants, many truly converse Cajun French or Louisiana Creole. These French dialects developed by combining parts of French with different languages.
Variety of French audio system in Asia
Though Asia is essentially the most populous continent, it has only a few French audio system. French is just not the official or co-official language of any nation in Asia, however it’s a considerably frequent language within the Republic of Lebanon and Laos.
The next Asian international locations have small percentages of French audio system:
- Cambodge (Cambodia): 463,000
- Laos: 204,000
- Republic of Lebanon: 2,315,000
- Thaïlande (Thailand): 578,000
- Vietnam: 693,000
In these international locations, French is usually taught in secondary faculties or used as an administrative language.
Quantity of people that converse French in South America
French is even much less well-liked in South America than it’s in Asia. Solely three international locations in South America have small French-speaking populations, based mostly on the 2022 OIF report.
- Colombie (Colombia): 5,000
- Paraguay: 15,000
- Uraguay: 5,000
Variety of French audio system in Oceania
In Oceania there are three abroad collectivities of France with vital French-speaking populations:
- Nouvelle-Calédonie (New Caledonia): 288,000
- Polynésie française (French Polynesia): 278,000
- Vanuatu: 100,000
- Wallis-et-Futuna (Wallis and Futuna): 9,000
These collectivities are nonetheless thought of to be part of France however with semi-autonomous standing. French is the official language for all of those international locations.
Be part of the worldwide group of French audio system
Are you prepared to affix the French-speaking world? Begin by studying important French phrases and phrases. Rosetta Stone’s Structured Immersion methodology incorporates these necessary vocabulary phrases into bite-sized classes that depend on pure studying processes fairly than rote memorization. So, how many individuals converse French? Another when you get began!
