How Many Countries Speak English As Official Language or A Lingua Franca?
The Most Widely Spoken Language in the World
The Institute of Anderson says that English is an official language in about 55 countries and 20 non-sovereign territories. In at least 20 more countries, though, English is spoken by most people or is even the first language, even though it's not an official language.
People can use English on official government documents and in courts of law if it is an official language.
Learn more: Top 9 Countries with the Most English Speakers
English Speaking Countries Worldwide: Key Facts• An estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide speak English. • Approximately 400 million people worldwide speak English as their first language. • English is the official language in 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign entities. • 138 countries have English as part of their core curriculum. Meanwhile, 40 other countries provide it as an optional course. |
How many people speak English as a first language in the world: 400 million or 1.5 Billion?
Approximately 400 million people speak English as their first language.
Furthermore, it is widely spoken in many countries where it lacks official recognition. Even in countries where English is the official language, such as Cameroon, not everyone speaks it on a daily basis. In many cases, it serves primarily as a lingua franca in business.
Many countries use English as a lingua franca or de facto working language to bridge communication gaps between people speaking different languages or dialects. Furthermore, it is the primary language of commerce and is recognized as the official language of several major international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union.
So, at least 1.5 billion people speak English!
How Many Countries Actually Speak English?
 |
| How Many Countries Actually Speak English |
English is a language that is widely spoken and understood worldwide. Acquiring this knowledge will broaden your personal and professional networks on a global scale.
However, what is the precise number of countries that actively use English as their primary language of communication?
Fluentu, an online language learning site, reports that English is spoken to varying degrees in 96 countries. You will discover the countries where you can fully immerse yourself in the English language, as well as other countries where English can facilitate communication for travelers or businesspeople, but is not the predominant language.
What Are The Main English Speaking Countries?
English is primarily associated with the United States and the United Kingdom, which are the two largest English-speaking nations. The United States is estimated to have approximately 230 million native English speakers, making it the largest English-speaking country. In comparison, the United Kingdom has around 60 million native English speakers.
Canada, despite having two official languages, has the third largest population of native English speakers, estimated to be around 20 million. Australia follows closely behind with approximately 17 million native English speakers.
English is the predominant language in several other noteworthy countries worldwide, such as the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, and New Zealand. Collectively, these three nations are estimated to house approximately 13 million individuals who have English as their primary language.
Learn more: Top 30+ Weirdest and Rarest Words In English Language
Full List of English-Speaking Countries by Region
English is spoken by a minimum of 1.5 billion individuals, who are geographically dispersed across the globe. In order to enhance clarity, we have divided the 96 English-speaking countries into different regions. Whether you are intending to visit an English-speaking country or simply curious about the geographical distribution of this exquisite language
 |
| Full List of English-Speaking Countries by Region |
6 Native English-Speaking Countries
An frequently used term is "native speaker." This indicates that English is an individual's primary language or native tongue.
To begin with, there are six countries where English is the primary language. The population in these countries primarily utilizes English as their primary language, and the majority of individuals in these regions have been fluent in English since infancy.
• Australia
• Canada
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States
Interestingly, certain countries, including the United States and Australia, do not designate English as their official language.
English-speaking Countries in Europe
English is officially recognized as a language in only a few European countries. The English language is studied by 90% of European schoolchildren at some stage of their education. Nevertheless, in numerous countries where English is not recognized as an official language, such as Norway, Denmark, or the Netherlands, it remains the predominant language spoken by the majority of the population.
Europe is home to multiple countries and territories where English is predominantly spoken and/or recognized as an official language. The items are:
• Austria
• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• England
• Finland
• Gibraltar
• Guernsey
• Ireland
• Jersey
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Menorca
• Northern Ireland
• Poland
• Scotland
• The Isle of Man
• Wales
 |
| Some countries can speak English really well, even though it's not their first language! Here is a short list of all the European countries where English is an official language, along with the capital city and the number of people who speak English there. |
English-speaking Countries in the Americas
English is predominantly spoken in the northern part of the Americas, whereas Spanish and Portuguese are the primary languages spoken in South America.
The United States lacks a designated official language, however, English is predominantly spoken by the majority of the population and serves as the primary language for educational and governmental matters.
Canada is the primary English-speaking nation in the Americas, alongside French as its second official language, with a significant portion of the population being bilingual.
English is officially spoken in a few countries in Central and South America, including Belize in Central America and Guyana in South America. English is spoken in many Caribbean countries, too.
 |
| The countries in the Americas where English is spoken, from North to South |
The following is a list of countries and territories where English is recognized as an official or dominant language:
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados Guyana
Bahamas
Belize Jamaica
Bermuda Montserrat
Canada
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Puerto Rico
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The United States
The Virgin Islands
Trinidad and Tobago
It is noteworthy that despite English being the designated language, a significant portion of the population in these countries does not possess fluency in English. Instead, they primarily communicate in Spanish, French, French Creole, or other languages in their day-to-day interactions.
Learn more: Top 25 Trickiest Eggcorns In The English Language
English-speaking Countries in Africa
Africa is the second largest continent on Earth, consisting of 54 countries. It is natural to question whether there are any countries in this vast and captivating continent that have English as an official or unofficial language.
English is one of the primary languages spoken in 24 African countries. For certain individuals, it serves as the designated language, while for others, it functions as a lingua franca or a de facto operational language.
While English is officially recognized as a language in these countries, it is important to note that not all individuals may be fluent in English.
A majority of African nations possess a diverse array of officially recognized languages. South Africa boasts a total of 11 distinct official languages, with an even greater number of languages and dialects being spoken within its borders.
English is the designated language for official business in Botswana, although it is not commonly spoken. A significant number of individuals in Egypt and Ethiopia are proficient in the English language, despite it not being recognized as an official language.
 |
| The list of English speaking countries in Africa |
The countries where English is both an official language and spoken by a majority of the population include:
Ghana
Liberia
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Uganda
Zimbabwe
English is recognized as an official language in the following countries, although it is not commonly spoken as the main language:
Botswana
Cameroon
Eritrea
Gambia
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Namibia
Saint Helena
Seychelles
South Africa
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
The Rwanda
Zambia
English-Speaking Countries in Oceania
 |
| English-Speaking Countries in Oceania |
Is Oceania the most linguistically diverse region on Earth? Presently, the approximate number of Oceanic languages is 450.
However, with the exception of numerous indigenous languages, the majority of countries in Oceania primarily use English as their main language. Hence, this article would be incomplete without a comprehensive enumeration of the countries in Oceania where English is widely spoken.
Similar to the United States and the United Kingdom, Australia does not formally designate English as an official language, despite it being the predominant language and the de facto official language. Additional English-speaking countries in Oceania include American Samoa and the Cook Islands. New Zealand recognizes English as one of its official languages.
English is designated as the official language in several other countries, although it is not the predominant spoken language.
 |
| English Speaking countries in Oceania |
Countries with English as a primary or official language in Oceania are:
American Samoa
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
Guam
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
New Zealand
Niue
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
English-Speaking Countries in Asia and the Middle East
 |
| English-Speaking Countries in Asia |
English is recognized as an official or de facto official language in certain countries in Asia and the Middle East, although it may not be the predominant language in those regions.
They are:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
India
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Malaysia
Malpes
Myanmar
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Singapore
Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates
English is an official language in India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, primarily utilized in government and educational contexts. English is both an official and widely spoken language in Singapore.
Asia is the location of some of the most densely populated countries globally, including India and China. Among the 48 countries in Asia, only five officially recognize and use English as their language of communication.
Nevertheless, English is frequently spoken in other Asian countries. Indeed, a significant number of Asian individuals possess proficiency in English as their second or tertiary language.
English is spoken in numerous countries worldwide, making it a widely used language. Furthermore, an increasing number of individuals are acquiring proficiency in English.
 |
| English speaking countries of Asia |
How English Spread Around the World
The advent of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain is commonly regarded as the commencement of the dissemination of the English language.
The language underwent a transformation when Norse invaders introduced a number of new words, which were subsequently incorporated into everyday conversation. English started to adopt certain words from French and Latin.
English underwent a process of standardization during the Medieval period. As London expanded, other variations of the English language started to decline or amalgamate into the form of English that we recognize today.
Modern English was disseminated globally during the 18th and 19th centuries by the expanding British Empire, which originated in Britain.
That is the reason why several countries where English is recognized as an official language were previously under British colonial rule, such as Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the United States. English is prevalent in India and certain regions of Africa. Despite Hindi being the predominant language in India, English continues to hold the status of an official language in the country. It is frequently employed in higher education and the realm of politics.
Formally, a mere 12% of the Indian population is proficient in English, with a significant portion of them using it solely as a secondary language. However, the country has a remarkably high population density, which results in this 12% segment of society surpassing 100 million individuals. Consequently, India possesses one of the most extensive populations of individuals who speak English in the world.
During the 20th century, the United States became a prominent political superpower, particularly in the post-World War II era. The language's continued spread throughout the century is attributed to its influence, as well as the impact of Hollywood films and the journalistic efforts of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
English is the sole official language of the Commonwealth of Nations and is also the acknowledged official language of various non-sovereign entities, such as Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and Bermuda.
Learn More: Top 10 Best and Greatest Poems In English Language Of All Time
Amazing Facts about English Speaking Countries• English is not recognized as an official language of the United States: You read that right. The USA is one of the places where English is the main language of the people, but the country has never made it an official language. The United States doesn't even have an official language. That's because the United States has been a multilingual place since before the republic was formed. Not making English the official language, even though it has always been the most common language, was a way to protect the variety of languages spoken there. • Some American states have their own official language, apart from English: The United States doesn't have an official language, but some of its states do. Some of them have made other languages official as well, but 32 of them have made English their official language. One example is Alaska, which has 20 official indigenous languages besides English. The Hawaiian language is an official one in Hawaii, just like English. • There’s only one English speaking country in South America: Even though most people in South America speak Spanish, there is one country where English is the official language. There was a time when Guyana was a British colony, but in 1966, it became its own country. English is an official language in this country, but Guyanese Creole is the main language of most of the people who live there. |
In Conclusion
English is a highly prevalent language globally. Presently, the language is spoken by more than 1.5 billion individuals globally. However, out of the total population of 1.5 billion, only 400 million individuals are native English speakers, projected to be reached by the year 2024 or 2025.
The United States and India have the largest populations of English speakers, with 316 million and 128 million individuals, respectively.
However, the significant number of English speakers worldwide implies that learning English can provide numerous opportunities for personal growth and enjoyment, as well as serve as a valuable language for professional endeavors, or even both. This ubiquitous language will enable you to communicate with a vast number of individuals from nearly every nation.
It is expected that this list will serve as a source of motivation for you to engage in studying. Acquiring proficiency in a language can provide you with opportunities to explore numerous countries across the globe.
FAQs
How many people speak English in the world?
Approximately 1.5 billion individuals worldwide are proficient in the English language, although the majority of them possess diverse mother tongues. There are approximately 400 individuals who have English as their primary language.
Which country has the most English speakers?
Despite not officially designating English as its official language, the United States of America boasts the highest number of English speakers, with a population of approximately 317 million.
What are the major countries where English is spoken?
The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland are prominent nations that have English as their designated official language. Furthermore, India boasts a population of approximately 128 million individuals who are proficient in the English language. Singapore and South Africa both possess a substantial population of individuals fluent in the English language.
Are there any countries where English is not an official language, but English speakers are still numerous?
Indeed, while English may not hold the status of an official language in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, a significant number of individuals in these nations are proficient in English. Recent surveys indicate that over 20 million individuals in Germany possess proficient English language skills.
In which country do the most English speakers live?
India boasts the highest number of English speakers compared to any other English-speaking nation. India has emerged as a major center for English language education and mastery, with a staggering 125 million individuals proficient in the language.
Which city in India speaks the most English?
Mumbai is the only city in India where people speak English very well. People come from all over India and the world to work in Mumbai, which is one of the country's main financial hubs and home to many multinational companies. As a result, there is a high demand for English-language communication in this global city.
What is the cheapest English-speaking country to live in?
For people who want to live somewhere cheap and where people speak English, Malaysia and South Africa are good options because their living costs are lower than those in other places. People in these countries can get a good education and health care at prices that are easier on the wallet.
