200 million French speakers in the world
200 million French speakers in the world
The number of people who can speak French reaches 200 million, according to a report issued by the OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie – international Francophone organization).
In 2005, the OIF had put this figure at 175 million. Today over 118 million people are learning French or studying in it. The highest increase was recorded in Africa and the Middle East (+60.37%). In Europe, French is one of the European institutions’ official languages and remains the tongue most often taught as a second language. It is also one of the UN’s two working languages.
French is spoken on all continents.
According to the OIF, Francophone culture is also very popular abroad. In 2005, audiences for French films outside France outnumbered those inside the country. 2006 was marked by the "Francofffonies!" festival celebrating, in 400 or so events, music, dance, theatre and the visual arts from the Francophone world. Moreover, in many countries the annual Fête de la musique (street music festival), Lire en fête (literary festival) and le Printemps des poètes (poetry festival) are hugely successful.
The French language also has a high profile in the media. TV5 is the second most widely distributed channel in international broadcasting and the launch in December 2006 of France 24 provides the first French-language international news channel.
Finally, economically, the 68 OIF countries (members, associates and observers) account for 11% of the world population and 12% of its revenue. They carry out 19% of global trade in goods and 26% of global investment./.
last updated 21.03.2007