The French-speaking world

Broadly speaking, this term covers all the actions to promote the French language and the values it conveys. In the institutional sense - with a capital ’F’ - it relates to the International Organisation of French-speaking Communities, the OIF, made up of 63 States and governments.

Who are the French speakers?
Why speak French?
Who teaches French?
TV5MONDE - the international French-language channel
France 24
264 million people have the French language available to them
Contacts

Who are the French speakers?

More than 200 millions people speak French in the world.

French is one of the planet’s leading languages of communication. Although it is spoken by fewer people than Chinese or Hindi, it is, alongside English, the only language spoken on all continents.

Why speak French?

In North America, French is an assertion of cultural identity.

In sub-Saharan Africa, speaking 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 French-speaking cities and French is a working language, alongside English, in the institutions of the European Union.

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’s main language.

Who teaches French?

The OIF operators works closely with France and the 850,000 French-language teachers worldwide to estimate demand and extend teaching to reach new audiences.

French lycées (secondary schools)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 counts over 250,000 French and non-French students.

TV5MONDE also provides support to French-language teachers with its Learning and Teaching with TV5MONDE course.

TV5MONDE - the international French-language channel

With over 176 million households receiving TV5MONDE on all five continents and 59 satellite links, TV5MONDE, the number two international TV channels, offers an around-the-clock range of viewpoints on the world.

France 24

France 24 was launched in December 2006 and is the leading French 24-hour international news channel. It is broadcast in French, English, Arabic and in Spanish.

France 24 is available in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, New York and Washington D.C., with plans to extend its coverage worldwide.

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