List_of_countries_where_English_is_an_official_language

List of countries and territories where English is an official language

List of countries and territories where English is an official language

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The following is a list of countries and territories where English is an official language used in citizen interactions with government officials. As of 2020, there were 58 sovereign states and 28 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language.[citation needed] Many administrative divisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level.

English language distribution
  Majority native language
  Official or administrative language, but not native language

Most states where English is an official language are former territories of the British Empire. Exceptions include Rwanda and Burundi, which were formerly German and then Belgian colonies; Cameroon, where only part of national territory was under British mandate; and Liberia, the Philippines, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, which were American territories. English is the sole official language of the Commonwealth of Nations and of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). English is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Caribbean Community, the Union of South American Nations, and many other international organisations. Although English is not de jure an official language at the national level in the United States, most states and territories within the United States have English as an official language, and only Puerto Rico uses a language other than English as a primary working language.

The United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, where the overwhelming majority of native English speakers reside, do not have English as an official language de jure, but English is considered their de facto official language because it dominates in these countries.[citation needed]

Sovereign states

English is a de jure official language

More information Country, code ...

English is a predominant language

In these countries, English is conventionally spoken by both the government and main population, despite it having no de jure official status at national level.

More information Country, ISO code ...

English is a de facto working language

In these countries, English is spoken in government or education, but it is not recognised as de jure official, nor a primary language spoken by the main population

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Non-sovereign entities

English is a de jure official language

More information Entity, Sovereign state ...

English is a de facto official language

More information Entity, Sovereign state ...

English is a de facto official, but not a primary language

More information Entity, Sovereign state ...

Country subdivisions

In these country subdivisions, English has de jure official status, but English is not official in their respective countries at the national level.

More information Subdivision, Country ...

See also

Footnotes

  1. The population figures are based on the sources in List of countries by population, with information as of 23 January 2009 (UN estimates, et al.), and refer to the population of the country and not necessarily to the number of inhabitants that speak English in the country in question.
  2. American Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory.
  3. Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory.
  4. The Cook Islands and Niue are associated states of New Zealand that lack general recognition.
  5. Guam is an organized unincorporated territory of the United States
  6. Hong Kong is a former British Crown colony (1843–1981) and British Dependent Territory (1981–1997); it is currently a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (1997–present).
  7. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency.
  8. Jersey is a British Crown dependency.
  9. The Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States.
  10. Pitcairn Islands is a British Overseas Territory.
  11. Puerto Rico is, historically and culturally, connected to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean; Spanish is also an official language on the island. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated United States territory referred to as a "Commonwealth".
  12. The US Virgin Islands is an insular area of the United States.
  13. Guernsey is a British Crown dependency.
  14. Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia.
  15. Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of Australia.

References

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