English is the most spoken language worldwide, with nearly 1.4 million speakers. Plus, It is the official language of 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign entities.
From the United States and the United Kingdom to countries in Africa and Asia, English has become a global language for communication, trade, and diplomacy.
In this article, we will explore the countries where English is the official language and take a closer look at the number of people worldwide speaking English
English Speaking Countries Worldwide: Top Picks (2024)
- 1.35 billion people worldwide speak English.
- Around 360 million people globally speak English as their first language.
- English is the official language of 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign entities.
- 138 countries include English as part of their core curriculum. Meanwhile, 40 other countries offer it as an optional course.
How Many Countries Speak English in 2024?
Discover how many countries speak English worldwide with our comprehensive list of English-speaking nations on each continent. Keep reading to find out!
1. English Speaking Countries in North & South America
The United States of America does not identify any language as its official language. Still, it is well-known that most people identify English as their first language and use it daily. English is also the primary language used for educational and official activities.
After the USA, Canada is another English-speaking country in North America. English is Canada’s official language, followed by its second official language, French. Most of Canada’s population is bilingual and speaks both. The e-learning industry makes its most revenue from the United States only because the US is one of the most English-speaking countries.
Countries that recognize English as their official language are:
| Country | Percentage of the population that speaks English |
| United States | 95.5% |
| Canada | 83.06% |
| Belize | 81.65% |
| Guyana | 90.55% |
| Bermuda | 96.92% |
| Falkland Islands | Unknown |
| Puerto Rico | 48.61% |
| Jamaica | 97.64% |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 80% |
| Anguilla | 92.31% |
| Bahamas | 87.13% |
| Barbados | 93.91% |
| British Virgin Islands | 86.96% |
| Cayman Islands | 76.6% |
| Sint Maarten | Unknown |
| Dominica | 94.03% |
| Grenada | 90.91% |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 78% |
| Saint Lucia | 43.03% |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 95% |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | Unknown |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 87.74% |
| US Virgin Islands | 95.97% |
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2. English Speaking Countries in Europe
A study by the Eurydice network concluded that about 90% of European schoolchildren learn English at some stage of their primary education. But that doesn’t mean they’re proficient in English as they grow up.
Several European countries and territories speak English chiefly and recognize it as their official language. They are listed below:
| Country | Percentage of the population that speaks English |
| Wales | 99% |
| Isle of Man | 99.93% |
| Scotland | 98.6% |
| Ireland | 98.37% |
| England | 92% |
| Malta | 62.39% |
| Gibraltar | 100% |
3. English Speaking Countries in Africa
Most African countries have several official languages, and South Africa alone has eleven official languages; other than these, various languages and dialects are used in the country.
Many African countries, like Botswana, have enlisted English as their official language, but a minority of their population speak and use it daily. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, English is used abundantly, even though it is not identified as an official language.
So, Countries that identify English as their official language and a big part of the population speaks it too are listed below:
| Country | Percentage of the population that speaks English |
| South Africa | 31% |
| Nigeria | 86.42% |
| Mauritius | 15.97% |
| Botswana | 38.42% |
| Cameroon | 38% |
| Gambia | 2.34% |
| Ghana | 66.67% |
| Kenya | 18.83% |
| Lesotho | 27.86% |
| Liberia | 82.87% |
| Namibia | 17.24% |
| Malawi | 3.88% |
| Seychelles | 37.63% |
| Sierra Leone | 83.53% |
| Swaziland | 48.2% |
| Tanzania | 9.89% |
| Rwanda | 15% |
| Uganda | 89.9% |
| Zambia | 16% |
| Zimbabwe | 82.07% |
4. English Speaking Countries in Asia
English is one of the most spoken languages on the continent. However, several countries still need to identify English as their official language even though most of the population is proficient in it and uses it daily.
Below is a list of countries where English is the official language:
| Country | Percentage of the population that speaks English |
| Singapore | 83.10% |
| Philippines | 58.2% |
| Pakistan | 49% |
| Brunei | 39.07% |
| India | 12% |
Note that in some of these countries, even though English is listed as an official language, it is mainly used for official and educational purposes.
5. English Speaking countries in Oceania
Like the USA and the U.K., Australia does not recognize English as its official language even though it is used widely daily. Countries that follow the same practice are the Cook Islands and American Samoa, and in New Zealand, English is both the official and chiefly used language.
The Countries listed below have officially listed English as their official language, even though it is not the primary language used by the masses.
| Country | Percentage of the population that speaks English |
| Australia | 92.80% |
| New Zealand | 97.82% |
| Cook Islands | 19.80% |
| Fiji | 20.62% |
| Guam | 91.09% |
| Kiribati | 24.21% |
| Marshall Islands | 98.33% |
| Micronesia | 57.66% |
| Nauru | 96.67% |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 83.33% |
| Palau | 92.50% |
| Papua New Guinea | 49.76% |
| American Samoa | 80.1% |
| Samoa | 49.86% |
| Solomon Islands | 31.68% |
| Tonga | 30% |
| Vanuatu | 83.55% |
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Final Words: How Many Countries Speak English In 2024
With over 1.35 million speakers, English is most widely used for international communication and other official work worldwide.
The United States and India have the highest number of English speakers, with 316 million and 128 million, respectively.
Further, we expect that the number of English speakers globally will cross 1.4 million in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions:
About 1.35 billion people on this planet speak English, but a majority of them have different native languages. Approximately 360 people speak English as their first language.
Even though The United States of America doesn’t identify English as an official language, with a population of about 317 million English-speaking people, the country has the most English speakers.
The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland are major countries with English as their official language. In addition, India has nearly 128 million people who speak English. Singapore and South Africa also have a large number of English speakers.
Yes, although English is not an official language in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, many people still speak English in these countries. Recent surveys have shown that more than 20 million people in Germany have working English knowledge.