English-speaking countries around the globe: A helpful guide

A mammoth list of English-speaking countries

"English is the official language of 67 different countries and 27 non-sovereign entities around the world. But apart from that, English is also spoken in many countries where it’s not an official language.

In fact, some countries where english is commonly spoken may have more than official language. many use as a lingua franca or de facto working language to facilitate communication between citizens who speak different languages dialects. our list will include these well, when relevant.

English speaking countries of Europe

In Europe, there are only a handful of countries where English is recognized as an official language. However, in many countries where it’s not an official language - such as Norway, Denmark, or the Netherlands - it’s still spoken by the majority of the population.

You’d be surprised how well some nations speak English, even though it’s not their native language! Here’s a short list of all the countries in Europe where English is an official language, with their capital and the percentage of the population that speaks English.

English speaking countries in Africa

Africa is the second biggest continent on the planet with 54 countries. It’s only natural for you to wonder if there are any countries which speak English officially or unofficially on this huge and fascinating continent. The answer is, there are! 24 African countries use English as one of their main languages. For some of them, it’s the official language, while for others, it’s used as a lingua franca or a de facto working language.

Let’s take a look at the list of English speaking countries in Africa.

English speaking countries of the Americas

While North part of the Americas mostly speaks English, the main languages spoken in South America are Spanish and Portuguese.

However, in both Central and South America, there are a handful of countries where English is an official language, such as Belize in Central America and Guyana in South America.

Let’s take a closer look at the countries in the Americas where English is spoken, from North to South.

English speaking countries in the Caribbean

When you think of the Caribbean islands, what comes to mind are palm trees, turquoise water, and white sand beaches. And Spanish-speaking natives. However, you may be surprised to find out that some Caribbean islands speak English as their official language!

Here’s a list of countries where English is spoken in the Caribbean.

English speaking countries of Asia

Asia is home to a few of the most populated countries in the world, such as India and China. Out of 48 countries in Asia, five recognize and speak English as their official language. However, that doesn’t mean that English is not commonly spoken in other Asian countries! In fact, many Asian citizens speak at least some English as their second or even third language.

Here’s the list:

English speaking countries in Oceania

Did you know that Oceania is the most diverse region of the planet when it comes to languages? Currently, it’s estimated that there are 450 Oceanic languages!

However, aside from a multitude of indigenous languages, most countries in Oceania are English speaking. This is why this article couldn’t be complete without a list of countries in Oceania where English is spoken.

Fun facts about countries where English is spoken

If you enjoy learning languages and discovering other cultures, then you might want to know more about the English language! Curiosities are always fun to learn, so let’s go over a few surprising facts about countries where English is spoken. Let's start with an interesting detail about English in the United Arab Emirates!

1. Almost everyone in the UAE speaks English.

According to surveys, around 90% of the population of the United Arab Emirates can communicate in English. This is because the country has a large expatriate community, and people from diverse backgrounds and nations use English to understand each other. English is taught in schools as a second language and is the most commonly used language for international businesses and diplomacy in the UAE.

2. English is not recognized as an official language of the United States.

Yes, you read that right. Although the USA is one of the countries where English is the primary language of the population, it has never declared it as an official language. In fact, the USA doesn’t have an official language. That’s because the USA is a multilingual territory, and has been even before the founding of the republic. Not declaring an official language - despite the fact that English has always been its predominant language - was a way of protecting that linguistic diversity.

3. Some American states have their own official language, apart from English.

Although the USA has no official language as a country, some of its states do. While 32 of them have declared English as their official language, there are a few that have also recognized other official languages. For example, Alaska recognizes 20 indigenous official languages, apart from English. In Hawaii, Hawaiian is recognized as an official language next to English.

4. There’s only one English speaking country in South America.

While South America is primarily a Spanish-speaking continent, there’s one South American country where English is an official language. It’s Guyana, and it used to be a British colony until 1966, when it gained its independence. However, even though English is an official language in this country, the majority of the population speaks Guyanese Creole as their main language.