Here's a breakdown:
Countries:
* Catalonia (Spain): This is the region where Catalan is most widely spoken, with over 7.5 million speakers.
* Andorra: Catalan is the official language of this micro-state, with a population of about 80,000.
* France (Northern Catalonia): The area known as "Northern Catalonia" in France has a significant Catalan-speaking population, though the exact number is debated (estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000).
* Italy (Alghero): The city of Alghero in Sardinia, Italy, has a significant Catalan-speaking community, known as Algherese.
* Other countries: Small Catalan-speaking communities exist in countries like Monaco, Argentina, and Cuba.
Cities:
* Barcelona (Spain): The largest city in Catalonia and one of the largest cities in Spain, Barcelona has a vast Catalan-speaking population.
* Girona (Spain): Another significant city in Catalonia, Girona has a strong Catalan cultural and linguistic identity.
* Lleida (Spain): A city in Catalonia, Lleida is known for its Catalan heritage and culture.
* Tarragona (Spain): Another important city in Catalonia, Tarragona has a rich history and cultural traditions associated with the Catalan language.
* Perpignan (France): The largest city in Northern Catalonia, Perpignan is a center of Catalan culture and language.
* Alghero (Italy): The only Italian city with a significant Catalan-speaking population, Alghero holds onto its Catalan heritage.
Overall:
It's estimated that there are over 10 million Catalan speakers worldwide, concentrated mainly in Catalonia, Andorra, and Northern Catalonia in France. There are also many smaller Catalan-speaking communities scattered across the world.
It's important to note that the actual number of places and speakers can vary depending on how you define "speak" (fluent, native, etc.) and how you count smaller communities.