Where French is an official language:
* Europe:
* France: The largest country where French is spoken as a native language.
* Belgium: French is one of the three official languages (alongside Dutch and German).
* Switzerland: French is one of the four official languages (alongside German, Italian, and Romansh).
* Luxembourg: French is one of the three official languages (alongside Luxembourgish and German).
* Monaco: French is the official language.
* Africa:
* Algeria: French is an official language along with Arabic.
* Benin: French is the official language.
* Burkina Faso: French is the official language.
* Burundi: French is one of the official languages (along with Kirundi).
* Cameroon: French is one of the official languages (along with English).
* Central African Republic: French is the official language.
* Chad: French is the official language.
* Comoros: French is one of the official languages (along with Arabic and Comorian).
* Congo, Democratic Republic of the: French is one of the official languages (along with Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, and Tshiluba).
* Congo, Republic of the: French is the official language.
* Côte d'Ivoire: French is the official language.
* Djibouti: French is one of the official languages (along with Arabic).
* Gabon: French is the official language.
* Guinea: French is the official language.
* Guinea-Bissau: French is one of the official languages (along with Portuguese).
* Madagascar: French is one of the official languages (along with Malagasy).
* Mali: French is the official language.
* Mauritania: French is one of the official languages (along with Arabic).
* Morocco: French is a widely spoken language but not official.
* Niger: French is the official language.
* Rwanda: French is one of the official languages (along with Kinyarwanda).
* Senegal: French is the official language.
* Seychelles: French is one of the official languages (along with English and Creole).
* Togo: French is the official language.
* Tunisia: French is a widely spoken language but not official.
* Americas:
* Canada: French is one of the two official languages (along with English).
* Haiti: French is the official language (although Creole is the most spoken language).
* Asia:
* Lebanon: French is one of the official languages (along with Arabic).
* Oceania:
* Vanuatu: French is one of the official languages (along with Bislama and English).
* International Organizations:
* United Nations: French is one of the six official languages.
Where French is a widely spoken second language:
* Many countries in Africa: French was a colonial language in many African countries and is still widely used in government, education, and business.
* North America: French is spoken in many parts of the United States, especially in Louisiana and New England.
* South America: French is spoken in some parts of South America, particularly in French Guiana.
* Asia: French is spoken in some parts of Asia, including Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Why French is so widely spoken:
* Colonial history: France had a large colonial empire, and French was often the language of administration and education in these colonies.
* Diplomacy and international relations: French is an important language for diplomacy and international organizations.
* Culture and tourism: French culture is very influential, and many people learn French for travel or to access French literature, music, and film.
It's important to note that the number of French speakers is constantly evolving. French is often spoken in addition to other languages, making it difficult to get an exact count.