* Official languages: French is an official language in 29 countries, including France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and many African nations.
* Spoken by a significant population: French is spoken by a significant population in many other countries, including the United States, the UK, and many former French colonies.
* Total number of speakers: There are approximately 300 million French speakers worldwide.
So, while it's not easy to pinpoint an exact number of countries where French is spoken, it is a global language with a significant presence around the world.