Number of Speakers:
* French: Approximately 300 million native speakers and over 200 million second-language speakers worldwide.
* German: Approximately 100 million native speakers and 50-80 million second-language speakers worldwide.
Geographic Distribution:
French is spoken in more countries and on more continents than German. It is an official language in 29 countries, including France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and many African nations. German is primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe.
International Influence:
French has a strong international presence in diplomacy, culture, and education. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is widely used in international organizations.
Conclusion:
Based on the number of speakers and geographic distribution, French is more widely spoken than German. However, both languages have significant global reach and influence in different regions and sectors.