There are an estimated 220 million French speakers in the world. This includes people who speak French as a first language, as well as those who speak it as a second or third language. The vast majority of French speakers live in Europe, where it is one of the official languages of France, Belgium, Switzerland and Monaco.
There are also significant numbers of French speakers in Canada, Luxembourg, Algeria and several other African countries.
If you’re one of the many people who think that French is a dying language, think again! There are actually over 220 million French speakers in the world, making it the sixth most spoken language. And that number is only growing, as more and more people learn French as a second or third language.
So where are all these French speakers? Well, unsurprisingly, the majority of them live in Francophone countries like France, Canada, Belgium and Switzerland. But there are also sizable populations of French speakers in other parts of the world, including North and sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and even the South Pacific islands.
With so many French speakers spread out across the globe, it’s no wonder that the language has such a rich and diverse history. So whether you’re planning a trip to Paris or just want to impress your friends with your linguistic skills, learning French is definitely worth your while!
Which Languages Have the Most SECOND Language Speakers?
How Many Countries Speak French
How many countries speak French? The answer may surprise you – there are actually quite a few!
While most people think of France when they think of French speakers, there are actually many other countries where French is spoken as an official language.
In fact, according to Ethnologue, a leading reference on world languages, there are 29 countries where French is spoken as an official language.
Here’s a quick rundown of the countries where you’ll find French being spoken:
France – Obviously, this is the country where French originated.
It’s also the largest Francophone country in the world with over 80 million native speakers.
Belgium – While both Dutch and German are also official languages in Belgium, French is the primary language spoken by around 40% of the population.
Switzerland – Although Swiss German is the most widely-spoken language in Switzerland, French is also one of four official languages (along with Italian and Romansh).
Around 20% of Swiss residents speakFrench as their first language. Canada – Canada has two official languages: English andFrench . While English is predominant across most of the country, there is a large francophone population in Quebec (around 7 million people).
Elsewhere in Canada, pockets of Franco-Canadian communities can be found throughout New Brunswick and Ontario.
Africa – There are several Francophone African countries including Senegal, Ivory Coast , Burkina Faso , Mali , Niger , Congo , Gabon , Chad and Mauritius . These nations have a combined total population of over 200 million people!
Asia – You might not expect to find any Asian countries on this list but Cambodia was once a colony of France and still retains some ties to its francophone roots. Laos also has a small communityof native French speakers despite never being colonized by France.
Caribbean & South America – The Caribbean island nation of Haiti is home to over 10 million Creole speakers while Martiniqueand Guadeloupe (both located in the Lesser Antilles) maintain strong ties to their french heritage.
In South America, bothFrench Guiana(an overseas region of France) and Suriname (a former Dutch colony) have sizable populationsof french speakers .
How Many Spanish Speakers in the World
Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world after English and Mandarin Chinese. There are approximately 406 million Spanish speakers worldwide, including 47 million in Spain, 21 million in Mexico, 18 million in Colombia and 10 million in Argentina.
Other countries with large numbers of Spanish speakers include the United States (40 million), Venezuela (30 million), Peru (24 million), Chile (19 million) and Ecuador (16 million).
The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua all have between 2 and 6 million Spanish speakers each.
Simplified Mandarin Chinese is the primary language of over 1 billion people while English is used as a first language by around 375 million. In comparison, there are just under 130 languages that are spoken by more than 10 million people each.
French-Speaking Countries
There are quite a few French-Speaking countries in the world. Some of them are France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and a few African nations. Each country has its own customs and traditions.
However, they all share the commonality of speaking French.
In France, the official language is French. However, there are also regional languages spoken in different parts of the country.
The most commonly spoken regional languages include Occitan, Breton, Catalan, Alsatian, Corsican, and Basque. There is also a significant minority population that speaks German or Italian dialects.
The primary religion practiced in France is Christianity with Catholicism being the largest denomination followed by Protestantism and other Christian denominations.
Islam is also practiced by a small minority of the population. Jewish people have been present in France since at least the early Middle Ages but their population has diminished significantly over time due to emigration and religious persecution culminating in the Holocaust during World War II when over 75% of French Jews were killed by Nazi Germany.
In Belgium, similar to France, the official language is French however there are also three other official languages which are Dutch spoken by around 60% of the population primarily in Flanders to the north of Belgium where it borders The Netherlands , German spoken by around 1% of people living near Belgium’s border with Germany , finally there is Luxembourgish which is kind of like a German dialect that is only really spoken inside Luxembourg .
Most people in Brussels , which serves as Belgium’s capital city , speak French even though it isn’t an official language there . In terms of religion , Christianity is again dominant with Catholicism being the largest denomination but Protestants , Orthodox Christians , Muslims and Jews all having sizable populations as well .
Switzerland has four national languages which are Swiss Standard German (the standard form used for writing), Alemannic (a group of High German dialects), Franco-Provençal/Romandy (the major Romance language spoken), and Italian (spoken mostly within Ticino Canton).
English isn’t an official language but up to 30% of Swiss people can speak it fluently making it one second most popular foreign language after Portuguese . Around 64% percent of Swiss people practice Christianity with Catholics representing 38%. 26% belong to various Protestant churches such as Reformed Churches , Anglican Church etc., while 1.5% practice Orthodoxy .
Muslims make up 5% while 27% don’t have any religious affiliation .
France
France is a country located in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Monaco. France covers an area of 547,030 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 66 million people.
The capital city of France is Paris.
The French culture is renowned for its art, food, wine, fashion and architecture. Some famous French landmarks include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral.
The official language of France is French. However, many other languages are also spoken in France due to its diverse population. These include Arabic, Berber, Spanish and Portuguese.
The currency of France is the Euro (EUR). The economy of France is the sixth largest in the world with a GDP of 2.583 trillion USD as of 2018. Major industries in France include agriculture, automotive manufacturing, aerospace engineering and tourism.
Top French Speaking Countries
French is one of the most popular languages in the world. It is estimated that there are over 220 million French speakers worldwide. French is an official language in 29 countries and it is also spoken in many other countries as a second or foreign language.
Here are the top 10 French speaking countries in the world:
1. France
France is home to around 66 million people and it is estimated that around 53 million of them speak French as their first language.
France has a long history with the French language and it was even once considered the lingua franca, or common language, of Europe. Today, France is known for its fashion, cuisine, wine, art and architecture. It is also a popular tourist destination.
2. Belgium
Belgium has a population of around 11 million people and it is estimated that about 4 million of them speak French as their first language. The majority of Belgian Francophones live in Wallonia, which is located in southern Belgium.
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is officially bilingual with both French and Dutch being spoken there. Belgian culture includes chocolate, beer and waffles!
3 Switzerland
Joni Mitchell
4 Canada
5 Senegal
6 Ivory Coast
7 Mali
8 Guinea
9 Chad
What Percentage of the World Speaks French 2022
According to recent estimates, about 15 percent of the world’s population speaks French. This number is expected to grow in the coming years, as more and more people learn the language for business or travel purposes. By 2022, it is estimated that 20 percent of the world’s population will be able to speak French.
There are a number of reasons for this growth. First, French is one of the official languages of many international organizations, such as the United Nations and the European Union. This means that there is a growing demand for people who can speak both French and English.
Additionally, France is a popular tourist destination, and many visitors want to be able to communicate with locals in their native language.
Finally, there are an increasing number of online resources available for those interested in learning French. These include online courses, apps, and websites that offer lessons specifically tailored to beginners.
With so many resources available, it’s easier than ever before to start learning this beautiful language.
French-Speaking Countries in Europe
There are many French-Speaking countries in Europe, and each has its own unique culture and history. Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular French-Speaking countries in Europe:
France: France is the largest French-Speaking country in Europe, and is known for its fashion, wine, cuisine, art, histor y, and architecture.
The capital city of Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world.
Belgium: Belgium is a smaller country located between France and Germany. It is known for its delicious chocolate, beer , and waffles.
The capital city of Brussels is home to many European Union institutions.
Switzerland: Switzerland is a landlocked country located in the heart of Europe. It is known for its scenic beauty , neutrality , and high standard of living .
The capital city of Bern houses the Swiss Parliament.
Luxembourg: Luxembourg is another small country located between France and Germany . It is known for its financial sector , as well as being one of the founding members of the European Union .
The capital city of Luxembourg houses many important EU institutions.
French Language
If you’re interested in learning a new language, French is a great option. It’s a beautiful language that is spoken in many different countries. Here are some things to know about the French language:
• Origins: French is a Romance language that developed from Latin. It is the official language of France, as well as other countries like Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
• Pronunciation: French has some unique pronunciation rules.
For example, silent letters are often pronounced in certain situations (such as when they’re at the end of a word). Additionally, vowel sounds are affected by whether or not they are followed by a consonant.
• Grammar: French grammar can be challenging for English speakers.
There are different rules for masculine and feminine nouns, and verbs conjugate differently depending on who is doing the action. However, there are also many similarities between French and English grammar, so it’s not as difficult as it might seem at first.
• Vocabulary: Learning new vocabulary is always one of the most fun parts of learning a new language!
French has many cognates (words that look similar to English words but have different meanings) which can help you guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. Additionally, there are many loanwords from other languages in French, so you may already know more words than you realize!
Credit: www.masteryourfrench.com
How Many French Speakers are There in the World 2021?
It is estimated that there are approximately 220 million French speakers in the world as of 2021. This number includes both native speakers of the language as well as those who have learned it as a second or foreign language. The vast majority of French speakers (around 80%) live in Europe, with the largest concentrations being found in France itself (66 million), Belgium (4 million), and Switzerland (2 million).
However, there are also sizable populations of French speakers in North America ( Canada: 7 million; United States: 1.5 million), Africa (20-30 million), and Asia (2.5 million).
What Percentage of the World is French Speaking?
It is estimated that there are approximately 220 million French speakers in the world, which equates to around 3% of the global population. French is a widely spoken language, with official status in 29 countries and numerous regions and territories. It is an official language of international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and NATO.
Despite its relatively small number of native speakers, French has had a significant impact on the world – both culturally and linguistically. It is one of the most studied languages in the world, with around 10 million students learning it as a foreign language. It also has a long history as a lingua franca; a common language used between people who do not share a first language.
In recent years, however, its position as a global lingua franca has been challenged by English.
How Many French Speakers are There in the World in 2022?
In 2022, there will be an estimated 275 million French speakers in the world. This number includes both native and non-native speakers of the language. The vast majority of French speakers ( about 80% ) live in Europe, with the highest concentration in France itself.
However, French is also spoken extensively in other parts of the world, such as North and sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
How Many People in the World Speaks French?
There are approximately 220 million native speakers of French in the world. In addition, there are another 75 million people who speak French as a second language. Most of the native speakers of French live in France, but there are also large numbers of speakers in Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco and several other countries.
Conclusion
According to The Economist, there are approximately 77 million French speakers in the world. Of those, 66 million speak French as a first language and 11 million speak it as a second language. The majority of French speakers (60%) live in Europe, followed by Africa (24%), North America (9%), and the Asia-Pacific region (5%).