How many countries actually speak English?

In this article, we will list 70 countries where English is spoken to varying degrees. You will learn which countries will completely immerse you in English, as well as those where English can help you communicate, but is not the main language.

First, we need to define what it means for a country to “speak English”.According to the University of Sheffield, in 18 countries, the majority of the population speaks English. These include countries around the world, from Canada to the Bahamas and Australia. However, this number is far from the total number of such countries, since it does not include countries where English is the official language but is not the main spoken language. More than 50 countries have officially listed English as their official language, but in many of them, such as Cameroon, not everyone speaks this language in everyday life.

In some countries, English is the de facto official language. This means that it is the primary language of daily life and work, although it is not listed as an official language. For example, the United States does not have an official language, but English is the de facto language. Finally, there are many other countries where English is spoken as a minority language. In other words, only a fraction of the population speaks it/it is only used in certain contexts, such as in schools or trains around the world.

The following is a complete listing and explanation of why each country or territory was included in this count.

English-speaking countries in the Americas

As we mentioned above, there is no official language, but the majority of the population speaks English. Canada is the other main English-speaking country in the Americas, although French is considered the country's second official language, most of the population speaks both.

Many countries in the Caribbean also speak English. Here are the countries and territories that speak English as their official language:

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Puerto Rico
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Trinidad and Tobago
Virgin Islands

It is important to note that although English is the official language, many people living in these countries do not speak it and can communicate mainly in Spanish, French, French Creole, or other languages ​​in their daily lives.

English-speaking countries in Europe

Did you know that 90% of European students learn English? However, this does not mean that they speak it fluently as native speakers. There are several countries and territories in Europe that mainly speak English and/or have English as their official language:

England
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Malta
Wales
Gibraltar
Isle of Man
Jersey
Guernsey Island

Anglophone countries in Africa

Most African countries have many different official languages. For example, South Africa has 11 official languages, and even more languages ​​and dialects are spoken in the country. Although English is the official language in these countries, many people may not speak it. For example, in Namibia, only 7% of the population speaks English, although it is the only official language. In Botswana, English is the official business language, but it is not often spoken.

Countries where English is the official language and which is spoken majority of population:

Ghana
Kenya
Lesotho
Nigeria
Rwanda
South Africa
Uganda
Zimbabwe

English is also listed as the official language, but is not used as the primary language in the following countries:

Burundi
Cameroon
The Gambia
Liberia
Malawi
Mauritius
IslandSaint Helena
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Swaziland
United Republic of Tanzania
Zambia

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English-speaking countries in Oceania

In Australia, like in the United States and Great Britain, English is not an official language, although it is considered the main de facto official language. Other countries in Oceania that speak English are American Samoa and the Cook Islands. English is one of the official languages ​​in New Zealand.

English is listed as the official language ​​of several other countries, although it is not the main spoken language:

Fiji
Guam
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
Niue
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

Anglophone countries in Asia

India
Pakistan
Philippines
Singapore
Brunei
Sri Lanka
Malaysia
Israel
Bangladesh

In India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, English is the official language, although it is mainly used in government and education. In Singapore, English is the official language and is widely spoken.

Now that you know how many countries speak English, it's time to practice your own English! We hope this list will help motivate you to study, as knowledge of the language can open doors to travel to many, many other countries around the world.