African Countries That Speaks French & Capitals: Full List
If you’re interested in learning about African countries that speak French, you’ve come to the right place. French is an official language in 29 countries worldwide, and 21 of them are located in Africa. In fact, Africa has the highest number of French speakers outside of France itself.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest French-speaking African country by population, with an estimated 43 million speakers. The Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Madagascar follow closely behind, with 22 million, 21 million, and 20 million speakers respectively. Other African countries where French is widely spoken include Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and Togo.
It’s worth noting that while French is an official language in many African countries, it is often not the only language spoken. Many countries have multiple official languages, and French may be spoken primarily in urban areas or by certain segments of the population. Nonetheless, French remains an important language in Africa, and in this blog post, we provide all countries within the African continent that speak the French language.
OVERVIEW OF FRENCH SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRIES
If you are interested in African countries that speak French, you will be pleased to know that there are 21 African countries with French as their official language. This is due to extensive colonial activity in the 19th century, which made French a widely spoken language throughout the African continent.
French is the official language of many countries in Africa, including Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, and Togo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the most populous African country that has French as an official language. With 77 million people, it is also the largest Francophone country in Africa. French is spoken by 51% of the population. Other French-speaking countries of Africa are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasa, and Côte d’Ivoire.
French is an important language in Africa, and it is used in business, education, and government. It is also spoken by many people as a second language. If you are planning to visit or do business in Africa, knowing French can be very helpful.
LIST OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT SPEAKS FRENCH AND THEIR CAPITALS
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Algiers |
| Benin | Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (economic) |
| Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou |
| Burundi | Bujumbura |
| Cameroon | Yaoundé |
| Central African Republic | Bangui |
| Chad | N’Djamena |
| Comoros | Moroni |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kinshasa |
| Djibouti | Djibouti |
| Equatorial Guinea | Malabo |
| Gabon | Libreville |
| Guinea | Conakry |
| Ivory Coast | Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (economic) |
| Madagascar | Antananarivo |
| Mali | Bamako |
| Mauritania | Nouakchott |
| Niger | Niamey |
| Republic of the Congo | Brazzaville |
| Rwanda | Kigali |
| Senegal | Dakar |
| Seychelles | Victoria |
| Togo | Lomé |
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF FRENCH IN AFRICA
French is one of the official languages in many African countries. This is due to the historical background of French colonization in Africa. France colonized many African countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and parts of West and Central Africa, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
During the colonial period, French was the language of administration, education, and commerce. The French government aimed to assimilate the African population into French culture and language. As a result, French became the language of the elite and the educated.
After World War II, many African countries gained independence from their colonial powers, including France. However, French remained the official language of many of these newly independent states. This was partly due to the fact that French was the language of education and administration, and partly due to the fact that French was seen as a symbol of modernity and progress.
Today, French is spoken by an estimated 167 million people in Africa, making it the second most widely spoken language on the continent after Arabic.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FRENCH SPEAKERS
French is spoken in many African countries, and it is one of the official languages of the African Union. In fact, Africa has the highest number of French speakers in the world, with an estimated 167 million people speaking French as a second language. Let’s take a look at the geographical distribution of French speakers in some African countries.
WEST AFRICA
In West Africa, French is widely spoken in countries such as Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, and Togo. In Senegal, for example, French is seen as essential for everyday affairs and education, and it was the language of literacy for 37.2% of the population in 2013. In Mali, French is the official language, and it is used in government, education, and the media.
CENTRAL AFRICA
In Central Africa, French is spoken in countries such as Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo. In Cameroon, for example, French is one of the official languages, and it is used in government, education, and the media. In Chad, French is the official language, and it is used in government, education, and business.
NORTH AFRICA
In North Africa, French is spoken in countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. In Morocco, for example, French is widely spoken, and it is used in government, education, and business. In Algeria, French is one of the official languages, and it is used in government, education, and the media.
OTHER COUNTRIES
French is also spoken in other African countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Benin, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Gabon, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ghana, and Mayotte. In some of these countries, French is an official language, while in others, it is widely spoken as a second language.
ROLE OF FRENCH IN EDUCATION AND POLITICS
French is an official language in 21 African countries and is widely spoken in many others. It is also recognized as a language of international communication and diplomacy. As a result, French has a significant role in education and politics in Africa.
In many francophone African countries, French is the language of instruction in schools and universities. This means that students need to have a good command of French to succeed academically. However, there is a growing recognition of the importance of promoting African languages in education, and efforts are being made to incorporate them into the curriculum alongside French.
In politics, French is an important language for communication and diplomacy in Africa. Many African countries are members of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), which promotes the French language and francophone culture around the world. OIF provides a platform for political and economic cooperation among francophone countries and helps to strengthen ties between them.
French also has official status in many African countries, which means that it is used in government and legal documents. In some countries, such as Cameroon and Senegal, French is the sole official language, while in others, such as Gabon and Ivory Coast, it is one of several official languages.