What is French? Facts and Figures about the French Language

French is spoken officially in 33 countries - that is, there are 33 countries in which French is either the official language, or one of the official languages. This number is second only to English, which is spoken officially in 45 countries. French and English are the only languages spoken as a native language on 5 continents and the only languages taught in every country in the world.(3)

I. French is the official language of France and its overseas territories* as well as 14 other countries:

1. Bénin
2. Burkina Faso
3. Central African Republic
4. Congo (Democratic Republic of)
5. Congo (Republic of)
6. Côte d'Ivoire
7. Gabon
8. Guinea
9. Luxembourg
10. Mali
11. Monaco
12. Niger
13. Sénégal
14. Togo

*French territories - DOM-TOM
   Départements d'outre-mer (DOM)
     French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion
   Territoires d'outre mer (TOM)
     French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French southern & Antarctic lands
   Collectivités territoriales
     Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte

French is also the official language of certain regions of multilingual countries:

• Belgium: Wallonie region
• Canada: Québec province
• Switzerland: Jura, Genève, Neuchâtel, and Vaud districts

II. French is one of the official languages in the following countries:

• Belgium
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Chad
• Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey)
• Comoros
• Djibouti
• Equatorial Guinea
• Haiti (the two official languages are French and French Creole)
• Madagascar
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Switzerland
• and Vanuatu

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