English speaking countries

The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where English is an official
language, i.e., the language of government. In 2012, there were 88 states in total (60
sovereign states and 28 non-sovereign states).

The majority of countries where English is a prominent or official language are

former colonies of the British Empire. Notable exceptions include Rwanda, which
was a former Belgian colony, and Eritrea, which was an Italian colony where the
British Empire spanned its control only in World War II and shortly after (1941-
1952).

English is the sole official language of the Commonwealth of Nations and the
Commonwealth Games. English is one of the official languages of the United
Nations, the European Union and the International Olympic Committee. Although
English isn't classified as an official language in the United States many states and
regions within the U.S. do have English as an official language.

India's linguistic picture is complex. According to the Constitution of India, "Hindi in

the Devanagari script" is the official language of the union;[1] and English the
'subsidiary official language';[2] however, English is mandated for the authoritative
texts of all federal laws and Supreme Court decisions and (along with Hindi) is one of
the two languages of the Indian Parliament. English is used almost exclusively for
higher education,[clarification needed]. Courses in majority of the schools[clarification needed] are
taught exclusively in English.

The linguistic makeup of Pakistan is similarly complex. While the national language
is Urdu, English is an official language and used in business, government and law.[3]

Contents
 1 Sovereign states
 2 Non-sovereign entities
 3 See also
 4 Footnotes
 5 References

Sovereign states
Countries where English is a de jure/official language
Country Region Population1
Antigua and Barbuda[4] Caribbean 85,000
[4]
Bahamas Caribbean 331,000
Barbados[5] Caribbean 294,000
[6]
Belize Central America / Caribbean 288,000
[6]
Botswana Africa 1,882,000
 Countries where English is a de jure/official language
Country Region Population1
Cameroon[4] Africa 18,549,000
[4]
Canada North America 33,531,000
[4]
Dominica Caribbean 73,000
[4]
Eritrea Africa 5,224,000
[4]
Fiji Oceania 827,900
[4]
Gambia Africa 1,709,000
Ghana[4] Africa 23,478,000
[4]
Grenada Caribbean 106,000
[7]
Guyana South America / Caribbean 738,000
India [6][8] Asia 1,247,540,000
[9]
Ireland Europe 4,581,269
[10]
Jamaica Caribbean 2,714,000
[4]
Kenya Africa 37,538,000
Kiribati[4] Oceania 95,000
[4]
Lesotho Africa 2,008,000
[4]
Liberia Africa 3,750,000
Malawi[11] Africa 13,925,000
[4]
Malta Europe 412,600
[4]
Marshall Islands Oceania 59,000
Mauritius[4] Africa / Indian Ocean 1,262,000
[4]
Federated States of Micronesia Oceania 111,000
[4]
Namibia Africa 2,074,000
[12]
Nauru Oceania 10,000
[4]
New Zealand Oceania 4,294,350
[4][13]
Nigeria Africa 148,093,000
[4]
Pakistan Asia 165,449,000
[6]
Palau Oceania 20,000
[14][15]
Papua New Guinea Oceania 6,331,000
[16][4]
Philippines Asia 90,457,200
[4]
Rwanda Africa 9,725,000
Saint Kitts and Nevis[17] Caribbean 50,000
[4]
Saint Lucia Caribbean 165,000
[18]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Caribbean 120,000
Samoa[19] Oceania 188,359
[4]
Seychelles Africa / Indian Ocean 87,000
[4]
Sierra Leone Africa 5,866,000
Singapore[20] Asia 5,312,400[21]
Solomon Islands[4] Oceania 506,992
 Countries where English is a de jure/official language
Country Region Population1
South Africa[22] Africa 47,850,700
[23]
South Sudan Africa 8,260,490
[4]
Sudan Africa 31,894,000
[4]
Swaziland Africa 1,141,000
[4]
Tanzania Africa 40,454,000
Tonga[24] Oceania 100,000
[4]
Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean 1,333,000
[6]
Tuvalu Oceania 11,000
[4]
Uganda Africa 30,884,000
Vanuatu[25] Oceania 226,000
[4]
Zambia Africa 11,922,000
[4]
Zimbabwe Africa 13,349,000
Countries where English is the de facto language
Country Region Population1
Australia[26] Australia / Oceania 22,930,576
Israel[27][28][29] Asia / Middle East 8,051,200
United Kingdom Europe 61,612,300
United States North America 309,442,000

Non-sovereign entities