How many countries speak french in the world?

It's difficult to give a precise number of countries that "speak French" because it depends on how you define it.

Here's a breakdown:

Official Language:

* 29 countries have French as an official language.

* This includes countries in Europe, Africa, North America, and Oceania.

Second Language or Widely Spoken:

* Many more countries have French as a second language or a language spoken by a significant portion of the population.

* This is due to historical factors like colonization or cultural influence.

* Examples include Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and several countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

Total Speakers:

* Around 300 million people worldwide speak French as a first language.

* Another 150 million speak it as a second language.

So, there's no single answer to your question. It depends on what criteria you're using. However, it's safe to say that French is a widely spoken language with a global presence.