English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but which countries speak it as their primary language?

A Bit of English Language Backstory

English is a West-Germanic language that originated in medieval England. The expansion of the British Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries played a pivotal role in spreading Modern English to all corners of the globe. 

Today, many countries where English holds official status, such as Canada, Australia, Jamaica, and the United States, were once British colonies. Additionally, English has taken root in regions beyond former British territories, including India and various parts of Africa, where it is widely spoken and embedded in societal structures.

With about 400 million native speakers worldwide, the English language holds an important position in the linguistic landscape, trailing only Mandarin Chinese and Spanish in its number of native speakers. 18.8% of the world population speaks English, and 5.5% speaks English as a first language. It’s the most popular second language globally and the most widely taught foreign language. 

When combining native and non-native speakers, English emerges as the most broadly spoken global language, serving as the official language in 97 nations.

What is an Official Language?

An official language is a language that is recognized by a government as the primary means of communication in official matters. 

In many countries, English holds the status of a de jure official language, meaning it is formally recognized by law as an official language of the nation. 

In some cases, English assumes the role of an official language without being the primary language spoken by the majority of the population. It can also function as a lingua franca, or common language. This is especially prevalent in African countries, due to the numerous regional languages.

In addition to countries where English holds de jure official status, there are also nations where English functions as a de facto national language, meaning it is widely used and practiced but not officially recognized by law. One notable example is the United States. Surprisingly, the US does not have a legally-declared official language at the federal level, leading English to hold the status of the de facto national language.

A Comprehensive List of English-Speaking Countries and Territories

English serves as the official language in 67 countries and 30 non-sovereign entities. It is the primary language in 21 countries and 18 non-sovereign entities. Primary language, in this case, refers to the language people speak at home.

North America:

• Bermuda: Bermudian English is considered one of the most unique English dialects in the world.
• Canada:
• United States: De jure official status in 32 of 50 states.

Central America:

• Belize: The only Central American country to choose English as an official language.

South America:

• Falkland Islands:
• Guyana: The only South American country to choose English as an official language.

Europe:

• Akrotiri:
• Dhekelia:
• Gibraltar: Most people also speak Spanish and Llanito, which is a blend of English and Spanish laced with words from other languages.
• Guernsey:
• Ireland:
• Isle of Man:
• Jersey:
• Malta:
• United Kingdom: Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, and Cornish are recognized regional languages.

Caribbean:

• Anguilla:
• Antigua and Barbuda: Barbudan and Antiguan accents are slightly different from each other.
• The Bahamas:
• Barbados:
• British Virgin Islands:
• Cayman Islands:
• Curaçao:
• Dominica:
• Grenada:
• Jamaica:
• Puerto Rico:
• Sint Maarten:
• Trinidad and Tobago:
• Turks and Caicos:
• US Virgin Islands: St. Croix has a different dialect than St. Thomas and St. John.

Oceania:

• American Samoa:
• Australia:
• Cook Islands:
• Fiji:
• Guam:
• Kiribati:
• Marshall Islands:
• Micronesia: There are eight main indigenous languages, and English is widely spoken as a lingua franca.
• Nauru:
• New Zealand: Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are de jure official languages.
• Niue:
• Norfolk Island:
• Northern Mariana Islands:
• Palau: English is official everywhere, and Palauan is official on most islands.
• Papua New Guinea:
• Pitcairn Islands: The Pitcairn Islands have a population of 50 people.
• Saint Kitts and Nevis:
• Saint Lucia:
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
• Samoa:
• Solomon Islands: There are over 120 native languages in the Solomon Islands.
• Tokelau:
• Tonga:
• Tuvalu: It is the second most spoken language, but there is no official data on how many Tuvaluans speak English.
• Vanuatu: Vanuatu has over 100 indigenous languages.

Indian Ocean:

• Christmas Island:
• Cocos (Keeling) Island:
• British Indian Ocean Territory:

Asia:

• Bangladesh:
• Bhutan:
• Brunei:
• Hong Kong:
• India: English enjoys the status of subsidiary official language but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication.
• Malaysia:
• Pakistan: Lingua franca of the Pakistani elite and most government ministries.
• Philippines:
• Singapore:
• Sri Lanka:
• Timor-Leste:

Middle East:

• Israel:
• Qatar:
• United Arab Emirates:

South Atlantic:

• Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha:

Africa:

• Botswana:
• Burundi: It’s the least spoken official language.
• Cameroon: There are 24 major African language groups. English is spoken primarily in the Northwest and Southwest of the country.
• Eswatini:
• The Gambia:
• Ghana: Ghana has over 80 native languages; English is primary by default.
• Kenya: Kenya has 68 indigenous languages.
• Lesotho:
• Liberia: There are over 20 native languages in Liberia; English is primary by default.
• Malawi:
• Mauritius:
• Namibia: There are 13 national dialects in Namibia; English is used as a lingua franca.
• Nigeria: Nigeria has over 500 indigenous languages; English is primary by default.
• Rwanda:
• Seychelles:
• Sierra Leone:
• South Africa:
• South Sudan: There are over 60 native languages in South Sudan.
• Sudan:De jure co-official with Arabic.
• Tanzania:
• Uganda:
• Zambia: There are over 70 native languages and dialects in Zambia. English is used as a lingua franca.
• Zimbabwe:

The Global Phenomenon of English

From its birthplace in England to its spread across continents, English has grown into a global language. 

While countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are commonly recognized as English-speaking nations, it’s important to acknowledge the rich tapestry of English-speaking communities worldwide, each contributing to the language’s evolution and vitality. 

SOURCES

67 English Speaking Countries & More: A Huge & Helpful Guide

English Speaking Countries 2024

English – Worldwide distribution

Languages – The World Factbook

List of countries and territories where English is an official language – Wiki

List of countries by English-speaking population – Wiki

List of official languages by country and territory – Wiki