When it comes to the French language, there are several defining factors: occasionally tricky grammar rules, the importance of formality in certain social settings, and the faux-pas of saying bonjour to the same person more than once per day (pro tip: don’t do it).
With any language you learn, you’ll want to know where you can speak it. Contrary to popular belief, French is spoken in many parts of the world, making it highly useful if you find yourself in a new locale.
Once such place is the continent of Africa. There are over 300 million French speakers around the world today, and because of the brutal, centuries-long history of French colonialism, many of these speakers live in Francophone Africa.
From Morocco to Madagascar, Francophone Africa is culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse. The French dialects spoken across the continent are shaped by local cultures, other spoken languages, and each nation’s unique colonial history. Below, we’ll take a closer look at each of the 26 French-speaking countries in Africa.
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Which African countries speak French?
Francophone Africa has 26 countries. Some speak French as their sole official language. Others have two or more official languages. There are even those for whom French is not an official language but is spoken in some contexts. Regardless, learning some helpful French words and phrases will go a long way if you visit.
The full list of countries includes:
- Algeria
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- The Republic of Niger
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Togo
- Tunisia
1. Algeria
Population: 44,758,398
French-speaking population: 11.2 million
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Berber
Algeria has been the largest country in Africa since South Sudan’s independence. Algeria became independent in 1962 after a brutal war with France. Though French has no official status in Algeria today, it continues to be widely used in government, media, and education.
2. Benin
Population: 10,879,800
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Fon, Yom, Yoruba, Bariba, Fulfulde, and several other national languages.
Benin is named after the Kingdom of Benin, which was located in present-day Nigeria. Before its independence it was known as Dahomey. From the 17th through the 19th century, the society was known for the Dahomey warriors, an all-female military regiment portrayed in the film The Woman King.
3. Burkina Faso
Population: 18,105,600
French-speaking population: 1.3 percent
Other languages spoken: Mooré, Fula, Gourmanché, Bambara, and 65 other indigenous languages.
Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African country that gained independence from France in 1984. The French called it La République de Haute-Volta. Their first president, Thomas Sankara, renamed it to Burkina Faso, which can be translated to “the land of honest men.”
4. Burundi
Population: 11,178,900
French-speaking population: 10 percent
Other languages spoken: Kirundi
Burundi is one of the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa whose borders are a direct continuation of a pre-colonial state. It is a country with an unfortunately long history of unrest, including a 13 year civil war that came to an end in 2005. It is also one of the smallest countries in Africa.
5. Cameroon
Population: 23,345,200
French-speaking population: 70 percent of the population
Other languages spoken: Cameroonian Pidgin English, Camfranglais, and 250 indigenous languages
With over 250 languages spoken within its borders, Cameroon is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. And they’re still innovating linguistically! A new hybrid known as Camfranglais, which combines Cameroonian Pidgin, English, and French developed in the 1970s and has been spreading in urban areas ever since.
6. Central African Republic
Population: 4,900,300
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Sango
The land that is now the Central African Republic (CAR) has been inhabited since 8000 B.C. During the colonial era, it was known as Ubangi-Shari. When the country gained independence from France in 1960, prime minister Barthélemy Boganda renamed it with the vision of building alliances with neighboring countries.
7. Chad
Population: 14,037,500
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Central Sudanic, Maban, and several Niger-Congo languages
Chad is home to some of Africa’s most important archaeological sites. A total of 100 languages are spoken within its borders. French and Arabic are the official languages due to colonization and the history of Arab traders traveling through the area, but most Chadians speak an indigenous language at home.
8. Comoros
Population: 795,601
French-speaking population: No firm estimate; primarily used as an administrative language
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Comorian
Comoros is made up of three islands located in the Mozambique channel. It is the third smallest African country by area. Comoros declared independence from France in 1975, but the fourth major island in the archipelago, Mayotte, is administered by France to this day as an overseas department.
9. The Republic of the Congo
Population: 4,620,300
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Lingala, Kituba, and 60 other local languages
The Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, The Congo, or simply Congo, broke off from French Equatorial Africa in 1958 and declared independence in 1960. Brazzaville, the capital city, served as a hub for the French resistance during the Nazi occupation. The Brazzaville conference was the beginning of an era of reform for France’s colonial policy.
10. The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population: 105,044,646
French-speaking population: 67 percent
Other languages spoken: Kituba (Kikongo), Lingala, Tshiluba, Swahili, and over 200 other indigenous languages
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Kinshasa, is the most populous Francophone country in the world. However, the country was colonized not by France, but King Leopold II of Belgium, who forced the local people to produce rubber under horrific conditions.
While the Congo has suffered from political instability, corruption, and decades of internal conflict even since gaining independence in 1960, they maintain a rich and beautiful cultural heritage. Most recognizable are the global phenomenon of Ndombolo dance music and incredibly skilled athletes that play around the globe, including football strikers Romelu Lukaku and Dieumerci Mbokani.
11. Côte d’Ivoire
Population: 22,701,600
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Dyula, Bété, Baule, Abron, Anyin, Cebaara, Senufo, and 70 other indigenous languages
Côte d’Ivoire is named for its role in the ivory trade and its location on Africa’s west coast. Its residents are called Ivorians. Though English speakers frequently call the country the Ivory Coast, the Ivorian government does not accept literal translations of its name in international dealings.
12. Djibouti
Population: 887,861
French-speaking population: Less than 3 percent
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Somali, Afar
Djibouti is a small country located on the horn of Africa. The country was named after its capital city, not the other way around. Though it’s the least populous country in mainland Africa, it is a growing commercial hub thanks to its location near many important shipping lanes. It is also one of the world’s most prominent geological sites thanks to its unique location between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the East African rift system.
13. Equatorial Guinea
Population: 1,221,490
French-speaking population: No firm estimate; mostly spoken in border towns
Other languages spoken: Spanish, Portuguese, Fang, Bube, Annobonese Creole, Kombe, Kwasio
As the name suggests, Equatorial Guinea is located on the equator, on the west coast of Central Africa. The country was colonized by Spain, but French was introduced by people from neighboring countries, notably Cameroon and Gabon.
14. Gabon
Population: 1,725,300
French-speaking population: 80 percent
Other languages spoken: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Fang, Mbete
Myene, Nzebi, Punu, Teke, Vili
Gabon is also located on the equator. The land was originally inhabited by the Pygmy people, but migrating Bantu tribes became the majority in the 14th century. Today, Bantu populations make up 95 percent of the population. It is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa and much of it is protected parkland! Their many national parks are home to an incredible variety of wildlife living in rainforests, mangroves, and tidal beaches.
15. Guinea
Population: 12,608,600
French-speaking population: A firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Pular, Mandingo, Susu, Kissi, and Kpelle.
Guinea is a coastal West African country, sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbors, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. After a long history of coups d’etat, Guinea had its first democratic election in 2010. Its capital city of Conakry sits on the coast and is home to the National Museum and the Grand Mosque.
16. Madagascar
Population: 24,235,400
French-speaking population: French is primarily a second language in the educated population.
Other languages spoken: Malagasy
Madagascar is a large island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. In fact, it is the second largest island country in the world. Though it is known to outsiders for its wildlife, the island has been inhabited since the first millennium AD. Ecotourism is a major driver of the nation’s economy. The infamous baobab trees, a fixture of the French book Le Petit Prince, are found throughout Madagascar!
17. Mali
Population: 21,359,722
French-speaking population: Few speak French as a native language, but those with formal education speak it as a second language
Other languages spoken: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fula, Hassaniya Arabic, Kassonke, Maninke, Minyanka, Senufo, the Songhay languages, Soninke and Tamasheq
Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, and much of that land includes the seemingly endless dunes of the Sahara Desert. If you find yourself in Mali, you’ll notice that many wear boubous, a long wide-sleeved robe worn across West Africa. The importance and meaning of movement abounds in Mali as well; both music and dance play a huge role in Malian culture.
Mali dropped French as an official language in 2023, but it is still a working language in administrative and educational settings. The country has 13 official languages!
18. Mauritania
Population: 4,244,878
French-speaking population: Few speak French as a native language, but those with formal education speak it as a second language
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof
Mauritania is located in northwest Africa and named for the ancient Berber Kingdom of Mauretania. 90 percent of Mauritania’s territory is located in the Sahara desert, so most of Mauritania’s inhabitants live along the coast. Arabic is the primary language of choice in Mauritania, and the country is a member of the Arab League.
19. Mauritius
Population: 1,309,448
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: English, Mauritian Creole
Mauritius is a small island country east of Madagascar. It was uninhabited until Arab explorers settled there in 975. Mauritius does not have an official language, but most Mauritians speak English, French, and Mauritian Creole fluently. With reefs on the coast and rainforests only several miles inland, Mauritius is also a popular vacation destination.
20. Morocco
Population: 37,067,420
French-speaking population: 10,366,000
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Berber
The land that is now Morocco has been inhabited since the paleolithic era. It is bordered by the disputed territory Western Sahara. French is widely used in government, media, and international commerce, but it is not an official language. Moroccan style, inspired by the ornately painted patterns and deep blues of Marrakesh, is easily recognizable and quite popular around the world. Marrakesh especially is known for its unique intersection of Berber, Arabian, and European cultures.
21. The Republic of Niger
Population: 22,701,600
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma, Songhay, Tamasheq, Tassawaq and Tebu
Niger is the largest landlocked country in West Africa. It’s named for the Niger River, which flows through the country. The territory was an important hub of trans-Saharan trade in the pre-colonial era. Today, Niger is the combination of four distinct cultural communities and has a variety of internationally intriguing festivals. The Cure Salée festival, a three-day affair featuring camel riders, is held annually in the Agadez Region to mark the end of the rainy season.
22. Rwanda
Population: 11,607,700
French-speaking population: 6 percent
Other languages spoken: Kinyarwanda, English, Swahili
Rwanda’s high elevation gives it the nickname “the land of a thousand hills.” In name, Rwanda is most recognizable for the Rwandan Civil War and subsequent genocide, stoked by German and Belgian imperial powers, that erupted in 1990 and came to a violent end in 1994.
Since then, Rwanda has enjoyed a period of growth and relative stability, though political repression is common. With three national parks, it is home to a variety of wildlife, including one-third of the worldwide mountain gorilla population.
23. Senegal
Population: 15,129,300
French-speaking population: 26 percent
Other languages spoken: Wolof, Serer, Diola, Hassaniya, Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, Malinke, and 30 other indigenous languages.
Senegal is the westernmost country in Africa. The region has been continuously occupied since prehistoric times. French is the official language of Senegal, but the most widely spoken language is Wolof. Most interesting is the country’s long standing storytelling tradition. Professional storytellers known as griots train for years to accurately tell the genealogy, history, and music of the people. These stories, told through various mediums, contain thousands of years of West African history.
24. Seychelles
Population: 92,900
French-speaking population: 0.7 percent
Other languages spoken: English, Seychellois Creole
Seychelles is the smallest African country and least populated sovereign African nation. It was uninhabited before the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century. Seychelles currently has the highest nominal per capita GDP of any African country and the second-highest Human Development Index on the continent. It is a very popular tourist destination.
25. Togo
Population: 7,304,600
French-speaking population: No firm estimate
Other languages spoken: Ewé, Kabiyé, Tem, Gen, Aja, Moba, Ntcham, and Ife
Togo is a small country on the West African coast. Though the country is only 115 km wide, it includes 40 distinct ethnic groups and 39 spoken languages. Very few Togolese people speak French natively, but it is used in formal education, government, and media.
26. Tunisia
Population: 11,976,182
French-speaking population: 6,639,000
Other languages spoken: Arabic, Berber
Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa. The majority of the population is Arab and Muslim. French has no official status in Tunisia today, but it is commonly used in education and business settings. Signs in the country are usually written in Arabic and French.
Explore French-speaking countries around the world with Rosetta Stone
Whether you’re a trip to Madagascar or Morocco, French is a language that can no doubt come in handy for navigating transportation or getting to know these incredible communities.
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Written by Luca Harsh
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