65% of those who speak it reside on the African continent.
The International Organization of Francophone Countries (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, OIF) in Canadian Quebec has released a report on the state of the French language in the world.
According to OIF, today French ranks fourth in the world in terms of prevalence and second in popularity among studied languages. In the global ranking, French is surpassed only by English (spoken by over 1.5 billion people), Chinese (over 1 billion), and Spanish (over 600 million), but it outpaces standard Arabic. In total, by 2025, there are projected to be 396 million French speakers worldwide (up from 321 million in 2022), with 65% residing on the African continent. Among those studying French, there are over 170 million students in 36 countries (as of 2024).
The report highlights the strengths of French, citing its "high status in diplomacy, international law, cultural relations, and certain scientific and academic circles." It also draws its strength "from literature, philosophy, art, gastronomy, fashion, and independent cinema." Additionally, French has been identified as the third most significant language in the economy and business.
French is an official (state) language in 29 countries around the world. It is widely spoken across several continents, with the largest number of French speakers residing in Africa. In total, French is the native or working language for more than 320 million people.
Key regions and countries where French is an official language:
Europe: France, Belgium (Wallonia, Brussels), Switzerland (Romandy), Luxembourg, Monaco.
Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Madagascar, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Gabon, Chad, Togo, Republic of the Congo, Guinea, and others.
America: Canada (Quebec), Haiti.
Oceania: Vanuatu.
French also has official status in France's overseas territories, such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, and others.
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