French is spoken in thirty-nine countries spread out across five continents. These nations are known as francophone or French-speaking nations. They have French either as an official language or use it for daily communication.
Africa
Gabon
It is estimated that 80% of the population can speak French in Gabon, making it the country with the highest number of French speakers in Africa. Gabon is popular for its rainforests and jungles that house hippos and gorillas. There are tidal beaches along the coast making it an ideal location for whale sighting.
Mauritius
Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean well known for its beaches, lagoons, and reefs. 72.7% of the population speaks the French language, it is also the official language of the island nation. The French spoken here is called Creole, which is different from the French used in West Africa.
Cote d’Ivoire
In the third position with 70% of the population speaking the French language is the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire. Known for the beach resorts, rainforests, and architecture, this African country is also the birthplace of the exciting and entertaining Ivory Coast national football team captain and Chelsea F.C forward, Didier Drogba.
Senegal
Tied for third place with Cote d’Ivoire is Senegal. The Western African nation known for innovation in the field of education in Sub-Saharan Africa and for their progressive nature has 70% of French speakers in its’ population. Senegal is also home to Africa’s most unique and sensual dances- Sabar dancing.
Sao Tome and Principe
Portuguese is the official language of this tiny island nation situated west of Gabon. However, 65% of the population speaks French. This African nation is known for its’ volcanic chain and striking rock and coral formations.
THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN
CANADA
Canada has the most number of French speakers in the Americas. With 22% of the population speaking French Canadian as their first language. French is also the official language along with English. The city of Quebec is where 85% of the French-speaking population resides.
FRENCH GUIANA
French is the official language of French Guiana. French Guiana is a member of the European Union and the largest landmass outside Europe. This exciting department of France is filled with lush rainforests and eerie prison forts that attract tourists in huge numbers.
HAITI
In Haiti, 42% of the people speak French. It is also authorized as the official language and used in formal events such as weddings, graduations, and church masses. French in Haiti is spoken mostly by the educated public. Its’ variation, known as Haitian Creole, is also based on French but includes certain vocabulary from other Western African languages.
MARTINIQUE
The official language of this island nation is French. Almost the entirety of the population speaks French. Like the Haitian Creole, there is a local variation of French with the infusion of certain Caribbean languages known as Martinique Creole. Being an overseas department of France and situated in the Caribbean, Martinique has the best of both cultures to offer its’ visitors.
GUADELOUPE
As a region of France, the official language is French though the Guadeloupe Creole is also popular. This is a variety of the Antillean Creole French and considered to be the language of most locals apart from pure French. The island is known for its achievements in the field of literature and its vibrant dance and music culture.
Europe
France
French is the official language of France, and it’s spoken by over 70 million people (2019). France is one of the world’s oldest countries, and it is famous for attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Latin Quarter, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Montmartre, and the Georges Pompidou Center. With these worldly known tourist places France has become one of the most visited countries in the world.
Belgium
Belgium has three official languages, Dutch, German, and French. It is located in the Western part of Europe and is the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. French in Belgium is natively spoken by around 45% of the population which amounts to around 5.13 million people (2019). French is mostly spoken in the areas of Brussels and the Southern region of Wallonia.
Switzerland
Switzerland has 4 national languages; German, Italian, French, and Romansh. All of these languages maintain equal status as official languages except Romansh. Switzerland is located in Central Europe, highly known for its delicious chocolate and cheese. French speakers in Switzerland amount to 23% of the population making them 1.9 million speakers (2019). Did you know that French is the sole official language of four Swiss cantons including Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura? On the other hand, there are three cantons on which French and German have co-official status including Bern, Fribourg, and Valais.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is located in the Western part of Europe. This tiny country is known for being one of the safest and the second richest country in the world. Luxembourg has three official languages; French, German, and the national language of Luxembourgish. 56% of Luxembourg people speak French.
Monaco
Monaco, the second smallest country in the world is officially known as the Principality of Monaco. It is bordered by France on all three sides and by the Mediterranean sea on the fourth. Monaco is known for its exquisite events, casinos, and extravagant wealth. Events such as the Monaco Yacht Show and the Monaco Grand Prix attract the wealthiest people from around the world. Monaco stands on a population of 39,000 people (2020) and 90% of them speak French.
Asia
Laos
Laos is a country situated in the Southeast part of Asia. It is known for its Buddhist monasteries, tribe settlements, French architecture, and it’s beautiful mountains. The official language of Lagos is Lao, yet French speakers in Laos are a significant minority amounting to around 60,000 people.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a country located in the Southeast part of Asia and has around 97 million citizens (2019) and 700,000 of them speak French. Vietnam is famous for its handmade crafts, street food, and it’s amazing landscapes.
Cambodia
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country, and the Khmer language is spoken by 95% of the population in addition to French being spoken by 3%. Around 425,000 people speak French in Cambodia. Cambodia is mostly known for the Angkor Wat; the Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious building and falls among the list of the wonders of the world.
Middle East
Syria
Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic located in Western Asia, with a population of 17 million people (2019). Out of 17 million people, 85% of the population can speak and understand French. Syria is known for being the home of the Umayyad Mosque also known as “The Great Mosque of Damascus” and it is the world’s largest and oldest mosque.
Lebanon
Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia with a total population of 6.8 million people. 40% of the population can speak French in their daily lives, and around 65% of the population can read and speak French. The majority of Lebanon’s schools teach French as a second language alongside English. Lebanon is known for its delicious cuisine, mountainious scenery, and hospitality.
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Andrie Steliou
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