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200 million French speakers in the worldThe number of people who can speak French reaches 200 million, according to a report issued by the OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie - international Francophone organization).
Finally, economically, the 68 OIF countries (members, associates and observers) account for 11% of the world population and 12% of its revenue. They carry out 19% of global trade in goods and 26% of global investment.
LireFrancophonie
Who are the francophones?
Why speak French?
Who teaches French?
TV5 - the international French-language channel
264 million people have the French language available to them
Contacts
Who are the francophones?
This is a fast expanding community.
10th Francophonie summit
Streets of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
© F. de La Mure / M.A.E.
More than 200 millions people speak French in the world.
French counts among the planet’s great languages. Although it is spoken by less people than Chinese or Hindi, it is, alongside English, the only language spoken on all continents.
Why speak French?
In North America, speaking French is an affirmation of cultural identity.
In sub-Saharan Africa, French opens the door to basic education. French is the language of development and modernity in this region.
In Central and Eastern Europe, knowledge of French is associated with a sense of belonging to a united Europe: its three capitals, Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg are francophone cities and in the institutions of the European Union, French is a working language.
French is one of the two UN working languages, one of the two official languages of the International Olympic Committee, the only universal language for the postal services, and the main language of the African Union.
French language is increasingly present on the Web.
Who teaches French?
The agents of the Francophonie, in close consultation with France and the 850,000 teachers of French around the world, estimate demand and extend teaching to reach new audiences.
French lycées and approved educational establishments abroad make a major contribution to the spread of the French language. This unique network of over 440 establishments based in 135 countries welcomes over 250,000 foreign and French students.
TV5 also provides support for teachers of French with its course “Learning and teaching with TV5”.
TV5 - the international French-language channel
With over 176 million households receiving TV5 on all five continents and 59 satellite links, TV5, ranking second among international TV channels, offers a diverse range of viewpoints on the world around the clock.
264 million people have the French language available to them
|
World regions |
Francophone |
Partly Francophone |
Learners |
|
Sub-Saharan Africa |
15,5 M |
24 M |
20,7 M |
|
North Africa (Maghreb) |
14, 5 M |
19,9 M |
8,7 M |
|
Indian Ocean |
800 000 |
3,5 M |
3,1 M |
|
North America |
8,6 M |
3,3 M |
4,5 M |
|
Caribbean/Central America |
1,6 M |
1 M |
3 M |
|
South America |
120 000 |
200 000 |
0,4 M |
|
Middle East |
1,3 M |
0,5 M |
2,4 M |
|
Far East |
160 000 |
0,24 M |
3,1 M |
|
Europe |
68 M |
6,3 M |
16,5 M |
|
Oceania |
400 000 |
60 000 |
0,02 M |
|
Sub-total |
110,98 M |
59 M |
62,6 M |
|
Excluding the francophone area |
7,62 M |
3,9 M |
20 M |
|
Total |
118,6 M |
62,9 M |
82,6 M |
Contacts
Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (International Organisation of the Francophonie)
28, Rue de Bourgogne
75007 Paris
www.francophonie.org
Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (University Agency for Francophonie - AUF)
4, Place de la Sorbonne
75005 Paris
www.auf.org
Association Internationale des Maires Francophones (International Association of Francophone Mayors and City Officials - AIMF)
9, Rue des Halles
75001 PARIS
www.aimf.asso.fr
Université Senghor d’Alexandrie (Senghor University, Alexandria)
1, Place Ahmed Orabi
BP 415
Alexandrie - Égypte
www.usenghor-francophonie.org
TV5
19, Rue Cognac-Jay
75007 Paris
www.tv5.org
Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie - APF)
235, Boulevard Saint-Germain
75007 PARIS
www.francophonie.org/apf
Forum Francophone des Affaires (Francophone Business Forum)
3 place de la Coupole - BP 98
94223 Charenton Cedex
www.ffa-int.org
Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophonie Games)
95, Avenue de France
75650 Paris Cedex 13
www.jeux.francophonie.org
Union Internationale de la Presse Francophone (International Forum of the Francophone Press)
3, Cité Bergère
75009 Paris
www.presse-francophone.org
Updated on July 2007
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