How many countries speak Spanish?

It's not as simple as saying how many countries "speak" Spanish. Here's why:

* Official language vs. spoken language: Many countries have Spanish as an official language, but not everyone in those countries speaks it fluently.

* Spanish dialects: Spanish varies significantly across regions, making it difficult to define a single "Spanish language."

Here's a breakdown:

* 20 countries have Spanish as their official language.

* Spanish is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide.

* Many other countries have significant Spanish-speaking populations due to immigration or historical reasons.

So, the answer depends on how you define "speak."

* If you're talking about official languages, the answer is 20.

* If you're talking about people who actually speak Spanish, the answer is much higher and includes many countries beyond those with Spanish as an official language.