A Complete Guide to French-Speaking Countries

Editor’s note: This post was first published in July 2024 and has since been updated and refreshed in April 2025 to ensure accuracy and completeness.

France might be the most well-known French-speaking country, but did you know that this is a language you can use to communicate on 4 different continents? From North America to Africa, in this guide, you’ll learn where French is spoken worldwide. And, to make sure you understand why learning French is important, we’ll also explore how it became a global language and its role in the world today.

How Many People In The World Speak French?

There are around 312 million French speakers in the world, which makes French the 6th most spoken language. Not all French speakers live in France, though. The French language has crossed European borders and is now spoken as an official language on 4 different continents. 

In total, there are 27 countries around the world where French is the official language. In addition, French is also spoken in 12 overseas territories in Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. And it’s no surprise that French is popular in places where it’s not been made official. But there are many countries that don’t speak French as a national language but still have an important number of French speakers. For example, you’re likely to find many French speakers are Mali, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Where Do People Speak French Around the World?

The French language has a huge reach because of France’s colonialist history. Below, we break down where exactly it’s spoken today by continent and by country. You’ll also see how much of each country’s population speaks French. 

French Speaking Countries in Europe

French became the official language of France in the 16th century and soon spread to neighboring countries, mostly through literature. As a result of this, French is also the official language in Switzerland and Luxembourg. But there are other reasons why French is spoken outside of France as well. For example, Belgium and Monaco speak French because they were under French rule in the past. If you’re learning French, your French course probably teaches you French from France.

Here’s a table that shows the population of each French-speaking country in Europe:

French-Speaking Countries in Africa

Africa is the continent with the most Francophone countries. This might seem strange at first, but it isn’t too surprising considering Africa’s history of French and Belgian colonization. In total, there are 19 Francophone African countries where French is an official language. On this continent, French has been adapted and is spoken both traditionally (“Metropolitan French”) and in various dialects. Fun fact: While France has the highest number of French speakers, the Democratic Republic of Congo occupies the second place with very little difference! 

Here’s a table of the 19 African countries that speak French as an official language. Keep in mind that some of these countries have other official languages that are more prevalent. For example, Arabic is an official language in Chad and Djibouti, so the percentage of French speakers represents only a small part of their population:

French-Speaking Countries in North America and the Caribbean

Many people wonder why French is mostly spoken in Quebec and New Brunswick and it’s not as popular in the rest of Canada. The French language was introduced to the Americas during French colonization. Both New Brunswick and Quebec were part of the territory conquered by the French. This area was called New France. And even though these provinces later belonged to the British Empire, they were allowed to keep French as their primary language.

We see quite the opposite case in the Caribbean. Similar to Canada, Haiti was also under French control. However, while French is an official language in Haiti, only a small percentage of Haitians speak French. Instead, most Haitians prefer to speak Haitian Creole which is a language that evolved from the mix of French and African languages present on the island. To hear the difference, you can find quite a few French videos that compare the dialects on YouTube.

Here’s a table that shows you the two countries that speak French in this region:

French-Speaking Countries of Oceania

There’s only one country in Oceania that uses French as an official language. In the 18th century, the United Kingdom and France colonized Vanuatu, which was part of the New Hebrides islands. Presently, schools still teach both English and French, and people speak these languages alongside indigenous languages like Bislama. However, small groups of people mostly speak French in the southern islands.

Here’s a table with the number of population for Vanuatu:

French Overseas Territories

France might have left its days as a colonizer behind, but there are still a fair number of French territories overseas. In total, there are 12 territories in Africa, North America, South America, Oceania, and Antarctica. Most of the population in these territories are native French speakers, but there are also some indigenous languages still active and Creole languages that evolved from French like Antillean Creole. In the case of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, there are no native inhabitants on the islands since they are used by the French government for scientific research.

Here’s a table with the populations of France’s 12 overseas territories:

Where French is Widely Spoken (But Not an Official Language)

French is one of the most popular languages in the world, so don’t be surprised if you hear it in countries even where it isn’t an official language. Some countries like Burkina Faso and Mali were once French colonies. As a result, French is still widely spoken in these territories, but it isn’t an official language anymore. So if you’re planning on traveling to any of these countries, it may be a good idea to pick up some words and phrases from a French app to prepare.

French is also common in countries neighboring France, like Italy, Germany, and Andorra. The French language was also adopted in some European countries that had a history of war or trade with France, like the United Kingdom. Speaking with other French speakers is one of the best ways to learn the language, and it’s easy when you can find them all over!

Here’s the population of each country that has a large French-speaking population despite French not being an official language: