List of countries in Africa by French proficiency
| Countries | Total population | French speaking population | Percentage of the population who speaks ... |
| Senegal | 17,653,669 | 4,640,365 | 26.29% |
| Seychelles | 99,433 | 52,699 | 53.00% |
| Togo | 8,680,832 | 3,554,266 | 40.94% |
| Tunisia | 12,046,656 | 6,321,391 | 52.47% |
Which African countries are native French speakers?
- West and Central Africa French – (spoken by 75 million people as either a first or second language).
- Northwest Africa French (spoken by about 36 million Maghrebis and Berbers people)
- The French variety used in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
How many people truly speak French in Africa?
African French (French: français africain) is the generic name of the varieties of the French language spoken by an estimated 141 million people in Africa in 2018, spread across 34 countries and territories. This includes those who speak French as a first or second language in these 34 African countries and territories (dark and light blue on the map), but it does not include French speakers ...
What countries have French as their official language?
Some Countries and Territories where French is an Official Language
- Democratic Republic of the Congo. Interestingly, the largest population of French speakers are found outside of France. ...
- Canada. French is one of the official languages of Canada, along with English. ...
- Madagascar. The official languages of Madagascar are French and Magaly. ...
What are the five French speaking countries?
What are the top 5 French speaking countries?
- France (60 million native speakers)
- Canada (7 million native speakers)
- Belgium (4 million native speakers)
- Switzerland (2 million native speakers)
- Congo-Kinshasa.
- Congo-Brazzaville.
- Côte d’Ivoire.
- Madagascar.
What country in Africa speaks French?
French is the official language in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, the Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, the Seychelles, and Togo.
What percentage of Africa speaks French?
Africa makes up more than 70% of the world's total French speaking population. In 2015, a total of 31 independent states around the world reported French as an official language....French Speaking Countries in Africa.RankCountryPopulation21Seychelles92,90020 more rows•Jun 28, 2018
What country in Africa speaks the most French?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the largest concentration of French speakers in all of Africa, and has the largest population of any country with French as the official language. This means that even France doesn't contain as many Francophones as this former Belgian colony.
What is African French called?
français africainAfrican French (French: français africain) is the generic name of the varieties of the French language spoken by an estimated 141 million people in Africa in 2018, spread across 34 countries and territories.
Is French spoken in Nigeria?
Officially, French has been the second official language in this country for the past 19 years. It has also been made “compulsory” in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools across the country.
Who speaks the best French in Africa?
African Countries That Speak French Of these countries, Gabon comes in first as the African country with the greatest percentage of French speakers (80 percent) with Mauritius taking second at 72.7 percent and Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal tying for third with 70 percent.
Which country speaks most English?
Top 10 Countries that Speak English as a Primary Language (by total population 2021)United States — 332,915,073.United Kingdom — 68,207,116.Canada (except for Quebec) — 38,067,903.Australia — 25,788,215.Liberia — 5,180,203.Ireland — 4,982,907.New Zealand — 4,860,643.Jamaica — 2,973,463.More items...
Which country speaks the best French?
Here are a few of the best French-speaking destinations to visit (that aren't France).Luxembourg. ... Madagascar. ... Martinique. ... Rwanda. ... Senegal. ... Seychelles. ... Switzerland. ... Vanuatu.More items...•
Is French or English more spoken in Africa?
English is the most widely spoken language across the African continent, followed by French, Portuguese, and even Spanish.
What percentage of Africa speaks English?
13%So, let's review the top five: Of the 1 billion people in Africa (as of 2009), about 17% spoke Arabic, linguists say, while 13% spoke English, 11.5% spoke French, 10% spoke Swahili, and 5% spoke Hausa. And those languages only account for about half the population!
What percentage of world speaks French?
Where in the world are the French speaking countries and speakers ?AfricaTotal number of Francophones (2018)TotalTotal number of Francophones (2018)301,096,000Proportion100%23 more rows•Aug 4, 2022
What is the most common language spoken in Africa?
SwahiliThe most widely spoken languages of Africa, Swahili (200 million), Yoruba (45 million), Igbo (30 million), and Fula (35 million) all belong to the Niger-Congo family. Learn more about the Niger-Congo language family on Ethnologue.
How many French speaking countries are there in Africa?
You will be given detailed information about the List Of French Speaking Countries In Africa. Africa has a total of 31 francophone countries spoken by an estimated population of 120 million people. The population covers both the people who consider it a primary or secondary language.
What are some interesting facts about French speaking countries in Africa?
One of the major facts about French-speaking countries in Africa is their strong affiliation with France. Unlike other colonizers, French protectorates enjoy support from their overseas allies with direct administrative, economic, and social support.
How many languages are there in Bamara?
In addition to Bamara and French, there are 12 other national dialects including Bomu, Toro So Dogon, Tieyaxo Bozo, Maasina Fulfulde, Mamara Senoufo, Hassaniya Arabic, Kita Maninkakan, Soninke, Koyraboro Senni, Syenara Tamasheq, Senoufo, and Xaasongaxango.
What is the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo?
1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Population: 91 Million | Capital City: Kinshasa. DRC formerly known as Zaire is the second largest country in area after Algeria and the fourth most populated country in the continent. After gaining independence in 1960, it adopted the francophone culture and language.
Why is it important to speak the lingua franca?
Proficiency in speaking the lingua franca is considered an essential requirement for accessing opportunity and achieving success. Senegal is one of the countries that esteems the dialect both as an official and a general inter-ethnic dialect.
What is the language of the ivory coast?
Yamoussoukro is the country’s Capital city while Abidjan is the largest city in terms of economic growth. French is the official language in the country introduced during colonialism. Besides, the citizenry also speaks Diula, Anyin, Baule, and Sentari.
What is the official language of Congo Brazzaville?
It is a small nation located in East-Central Africa. Despite being a Belgium colony, the official language in use is French. Just like Congo Brazzaville, it is one of the countries in Africa with French as an official language despite being from a different colonial master.
How many people speak African French?
Help:IPA/French. v. t. e. African French ( French: français africain) is the generic name of the varieties of the French language spoken by an estimated 141 million people in Africa in 2018 spread across 34 countries and territories.
How many French speakers are there in Africa?
the French variety spoken by Maghrebis and Berbers in Northwest Africa (see Maghreb French ), which has about 33 million first and second language speakers in 2018. the French variety spoken in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, which has about 0.5 million first and second language speakers in 2018.
What is the difference between African and European French?
Mudimbe describes African French as possessing "approximate pronunciation, repressed syntax, bloated or tortured vocabulary, intonation, rhythm and accent stuck in the original African language flow; many phonetic, morphologic and lexical africanisms ." The differences from European French are due to influence from the mother tongues and the complexity of French grammatical rules, which inhibit its learning by most non-native speakers.
What is hypercorrection in Africa?
A third phenomenon is hypercorrection, which is found especially among the educated and upper classes of sub-Saharan Africa. Educated people there tend to speak a very formal sort of French which may sound a bit old-fashioned and conservative to European and North American French speakers.
What is the difficulty in describing African French?
The difficulty linguists have in describing African French comes from variations , such as the "pure" language used by many African intellectuals and writers versus the mixtures between French and African languages. For this, the term "creolization" is used, often in a pejorative way, and especially in the areas where French is on the same level with one or more local languages. According to Gabriel Manessy, "The consequences of this concurrency may vary according to the social status of the speakers, to their occupations, to their degree of acculturation and thus to the level of their French knowledge."
Where is French spoken in Africa?
the French variety spoken in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, which has about 0.5 million first and second language speakers in 2018.
Which continent has the most French speakers?
This includes those who speak French as a first or second language in these 34 African countries and territories (dark and light blue on the map), but it does not include French speakers living in other African countries. Africa is thus the continent with the most French speakers in the world.
Why is French the official language of Burkina Faso?
The official language is french because Burkina Faso had France as its colonial master. French is also used in political and judicial institutions, press and public services and administrative settings. More than 60 languages are spoken in the country, apart from French.
How many languages are spoken in the ivory coast?
It serves as a medium of instruction and functions as a common language of the people. There are more than 60 languages on Ivory Coast. The most common native language is Dyula, spoken mostly by the Muslims in the country.
What is the official language of Gabon?
French is the official language in Gabon. More than 75% of the entire population in Gabon are French speaker. French is the medium of instruction in schools. Other languages spoken in Gabon include Teke, Fang, Punu and Nzebi.
Is Cameroon a French country?
Cameroon has French and English, although French is far more popular and spoken than English. Cameroon is regarded as a bi-lingual country.
How many countries speak French?
French is an official language in 29 independent nations. The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where French is an official or de facto language.
Which countries have French as their official language?
List of countries where French is a co-official language : Countries in the world with French as an official language. Belgium. Burundi. Cameroon.
Which country has the only official French language?
List of countries where French is the only official language : Benin. Bur kina Faso. Congo. DR Congo, the most populated French-speaking country in the world. Côte d'Ivoire. France ( Metropolitan France and Overseas France) Gabon. Guinea.
What is the most French speaking country in the world?
North and South America are home to about 8% of the Francophone population. Canada is the world’s third most populated French-speaking country, after DR Congo and France, with an estimated population of 38 million people. However, only 9.5 million people, about 25% of the Canadian population, speak French as their first language. It is a secondary language of about two million people in the country. French, alongside English, is the country’s official language at the federal level. At the regional level, French is Quebec’s sole official language and the first language of more than 80% of the provincial population. Up to 95 of Quebec’s population use French as either their first or secondary language. Besides Quebec, French is also a popular language in Manitoba, New Brunswick, and the three territories.
Why is French the second largest language in Africa?
Africa has the second-largest Francophone population because of France’s influence during the continent’s scramble, partition, and colonization by the European powers. French is Africa’s fastest-growing language. According to the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), over 140 million people across the continent speak French as a first or secondary language. Although 34 African countries have significant French speakers, the language has official status in only 21 countries.
How many people speak French?
Today, French is spoken by about 300 million people, including about 76 million native speakers. It is the world’s second most taught, sixth-most popularly spoken, and the 18th most popularly spoken native language. However, the majority of French speakers use it as a second language. The francophone population is expected to reach about 650 million by 2050.
What is the language of the UAE?
It is the country’s second-most popular language and is used on road signs, license plates, pound banknotes, and government buildings. In the UAE, French is mostly spoken by French immigrants and those with family ties in Francophone countries.
What is the official language of France?
French is Europe’s third most spoken language after German and English. It is the official language of five countries on the continent, including Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and France. However, it is the only official language in France and Monaco and shares the official status in the other three countries.
Where do French speakers live?
15% of French speakers live in the Middle East and North Africa, while the rest of the speakers are scattered in America, Asia, and Oceania.
Where did French come from?
It originated from the Gallo-Romance, mainly spoken in Northern Gaul, and replaced Latin as France’s official language in 1539. From Gaul, the Roman colonialist spread ...
French Speaking Countries in Africa and Their Capitals
Democratic Republic of The Congo
Algeria
- Population: 40.4 Million | Capital City:Algiers Algeria is a country situated to the North of Africa with a Mediterranean coastline and a Saharan desert interior. It is Africa’s largest country by size, but most of the population is on the country’s South, running away from the desert North. It was colonized by the French who invaded the land in 1830. It became so dominant that it replaced n…
Burkina Faso
- Population: 19 Million | Capital City:Ouagadougou Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It borders six nations namely Niger to the east, Mali on the north,Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest. The country was colonized by the French, with the locals adopting the language and making it the official language as stated in th…
Chad
- Population: 11.3 Million | Capital City:N’Djamena Chad is a landlocked country located in the north-central African region and bordered by Niger, Sudan, Libya, Central Africa Republic, Nigeria, and Cameroon. The official languages spoken in the nation are French and Arabic. Its adoption as an official language dates back to the French colonial rule of the territory from 1920 to 1960. Furth…
Niger
- Population: 21 Million | Capital City:Niamey Niger is a landlocked country in the West African region bordering Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali. It is one of the top French speaking countries in Africa and has been the official language post-independence. Other than its official status, most people use it as a secondary language especially the elite. Ot…
Mali
- Population: 20 Million | Capital City:Bamako Mali uses French as the official language after France’s colonial rule over the territory. Other than that, there are more than 40 African languages that are used by the locals as their primary dialect. Bambara is the most famous and highly accepted dialect in the country with more than 80% of the popula...
Senegal
- Population: 14.8 Million | Capital City:Dakar As a result of Senegal’s colonial past, French is technically the country’s official language and has significant political and economic influence in Senegalese society. It is used for teaching in public schools across the country, as well as the dialect of governance. Proficiency in speaking the lingua franca is considered an essential requir…
Guinea
- Population: 12.5 Million | Capital City:Conakry Guinea is a west-African country located in the coastal shores of Atlantic Ocean. The official language in the country for administrative and educational purposes is French. However, there are 24 additional ethnic groups which speak different dialects namely Maninka, Susu, Pular, Loma, Kpelle, and Kissi. The most prevalent grou…
Benin
- Population: 10 Million | Capital City:Porto-Novo French is the only official language of Benin according to the Constitution of Benin. It was introduced during the colonial period and retained as the official language upon independence. It is spoken by about 4 million people, constituting around 35%of Benin’s population. In 1904 the area became part of France’s colonial rule, titled Fr…
Overview
African French (French: français africain) is the generic name of the varieties of the French language spoken by an estimated 141 million people in Africa in 2018, spread across 34 countries and territories. This includes those who speak French as a first or second language in these 34 African countries and territories (dark and light blue on the map), but it does not include French speakers living …
Vocabulary
In terms of vocabulary, there exist three phenomena in African French. First, the presence of words which do not exist in standard French. These words were either coined locally or borrowed from local African languages. As a consequence, each regional variety of African French has its own local words that are not the same as in other varieties of African French, although this loca…
Varieties
There are many different varieties of African French, but they can be broadly grouped into five categories:
• the French spoken by people in West and Central Africa – spoken altogether by about 97 million people in 2018, as either a first or second language.
• the French variety spoken by Maghrebis and Berbers in Northwest Africa (see Maghreb French), which has about 33 million first and second la…
Pronunciation
Pronunciation in the many varieties of African French can be quite varied. There are nonetheless some trends among African French speakers; for instance, the letter R tends to be pronounced as the historic alveolar trill of pre-20th Century French instead of the now standard uvular trill or 'guttural R.' The voiced velar fricative, the sound represented by ⟨غ⟩ in the Arabic word مغرب Maghrib, is another common alternative. Pronunciation of the letters [d], [t], [l] and [n] may also vary, and in…
See also
• French colonial empire
• Belgian colonial empire
• Romance-speaking African countries
• Geographical distribution of French speakers
External links
• LE FRANÇAIS EN AFRIQUE - Revue du Réseau des Observatoires du Français Contemporain en Afrique(in French)
• Links for Afrique francophone
• Dictionaries of various French-speaking countries