Native Speakers:
* France: Approximately 60 million native French speakers.
* Canada: Around 7.5 million native French speakers, primarily in Quebec.
* Belgium: About 4 million native French speakers.
* Switzerland: Around 1.5 million native French speakers.
* Other Countries: Significant populations of native French speakers in countries like Luxembourg, Monaco, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and many others.
Second Language Speakers:
* Africa: French is a major language in many African countries, often used in government and education, due to colonial history.
* Other Parts of Europe: French is studied and spoken by millions as a second language in countries like Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK.
* North America: While not as prevalent as in Canada, French is still studied and spoken by many in the United States, particularly in areas with a strong French heritage.
Total:
It's estimated that around 300 million people speak French as a first language, and over 200 million speak it as a second language. This brings the total number of French speakers globally to over 500 million.
Note: These numbers are approximations, and estimates can vary.