When you travel the world it is very useful to know in which countries the English language is spoken.
This article reviews the main English-speaking countries in the world with this language as their official language. Therefore, countries with a high level of competition with this language but which is not official, such as the Netherlands, Iceland or Finland, are left out.
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Top 20 English-Speaking Countries in the World (Official Language)
English is a language that is spread all over the world . Due to Britain’s colonial past, this language is present on all five continents. Recognition as a global language ended up coming later, when the United States emerged as the greatest power on the planet
Below are the main countries that speak English as an official language. Some are obvious, but others will surprise many readers; there are countries in all corners of the planet that make the list.
Europa
The English language was born in Europe, and specifically in England . Despite the fact that in all the other continents there are more countries with English as the official language, it is de facto the vehicular language of the European Union.
There are six countries on this continent that have English as their official language: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland (these four make up Great Britain), the Republic of Ireland and Malta.
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1. England
England is the most emblematic country of the English language . There are many civilizations that have influenced English today, but the most influential were found in this country (Anglo-Saxons, Normans, Celts, etc.).
2. Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland is an independent country with two official languages . One is English, and the other is Irish Gaelic. In the past, everyone spoke the second and not the first, but over the centuries the influence of English rule on the island was such that today the situation is exactly the opposite.
3. Scotland
Scotland is one of the countries that is part of Great Britain . In this region Scottish English is the official language, although Scots and Scottish Gaelic have co-official recognition as well.
4. Malta
Malta is notable for being a Mediterranean country that has adopted English as its official language . On this island the traditional language is Maltese, but English is widely spoken since it has always been a land of encounters and today it is a great tourist destination.
America
In America there are very important English-speaking countries . The United States stands out for the tremendous influence it exerts globally at many levels, but there are also other important countries.
The main one is Canada, but there are many more countries that have this language as an official language and that surely some readers do not have in mind. These are Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Belize, Barbados or Antigua and Barbuda.
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5. United States
The United States is the most powerful and dominant English-speaking country . After World War II, he exercised economic, military, political and cultural leadership throughout the world, being key in the process of internationalization of English.
6. Canada
Canada is a very prosperous country in which English is the official language , and in the Quebec region it is co-official with the French language. It is a country with a very high quality of life, and the United States coexists in this corner of the planet and with the great influence it receives from it.
7. The Bahamas
The Bahamas is a country known for its beaches and for being a tax haven . It is the destination of many wealthy people who want to enjoy a good vacation or safeguard their finances in checking accounts in this exotic country.
8. Jamaica
Jamaica is a country located in the middle of the Caribbean . It is known for being the birthplace of Bob Marley and reggae. Its population has many roots with Africa, and the Rastafarian culture is widespread on this island.
Oceania
Oceania is the smallest continent in the world, but there are different English-speaking countries . It is the official language of Australia, one of the most important Anglo-Saxon countries.
It is also the official language in countries such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Nauru, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa.
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9. Australia
Australia is a major country with English as the official language . It is a place that until a few centuries ago belonged to the aborigines of the island, who also speak their languages, but today the de facto language is English. The majority of the population is concentrated in the southeast of the island.
10. New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful and peaceful countries in the world . The quality of life is very high, partly due to the fact that the difference between wages and the cost of living is very balanced.
11. Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is a very different country than the previous ones . It is the country with the most official languages in the world, English being one of them. The ethnolinguistic diversity of this country is truly amazing, and has drawn the attention of many scientists.
12. Tonga
Tonga has been an independent Oceanian island since 1970 . It used to be a colony of the UK, and it’s a very different country to Australia or New Zealand. The economy is not very good, although it is an exotic destination for many people and tourism is one of the main sectors.
Africa
Africa is a continent of contrasts and with a marked colonial past . Different European powers agreed to divide up the territories and enslaved and plundered their populations.
Great Britain was one of the powers that led this bitter chapter of human history. One of the consequences is that today there are many African territories that are officially English-speaking countries, such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda or Sudan.
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13. Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the most influential countries in sub-Saharan Africa . Its high population is growing, and it is estimated that in a few years it will be one of the most populous countries on earth. It is a benchmark for many countries in the region such as its neighbors Benin and Cameroon.
14. South Africa
In South Africa there are 11 official languages, and one of them is English . In fact it is the most widely used language in the country, although in the past it was Afrikaans. This change in dominant language occurred as a consequence of the link that was associated between apartheid and the Afrikaans language.
15. Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a very unique country because of its history . Beyond a few years of Italian domination in the country, it managed to repel different colonial forces throughout its history. Today English is one of the official languages of the country, being possible to communicate in the Anglo-Saxon language in this African country.
16. Kenya
Kenya is one of the most iconic countries in East Africa . It was a British colony for years, and the English language is official along with Swahili. It is one of the main English-speaking countries due to its influence in the area, with the coastal part being the most prosperous area of the country.
Asia
Asia is the most populous continent in the world, and different countries have English as their official language . This list includes countries as diverse as India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
There is no doubt that the economic center of the world is turning to Asia, and English is the vehicular language in this region of the world as well.
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17. India
India is one of the top countries in the world with English as its official language . It is a country that is a former British colony, with which there is a marked past with influences from the English language. It is estimated that in a few years it will have more population than China.
18. Pakistan
Pakistan is also a former British colony . In fact, in the past Pakistan and India were within the same borders, and it was in the last century that the population was divided between the two countries for religious reasons. It is one of the most populous Islamic countries in the world.
19. Singapore
Singapore is a very small country, but with a very prosperous economy . It is in fact one of the richest countries in the world, and English is one of its four official languages. The English language is essential for business in this country.
20. Filipinas
The Philippines is a country with a marked colonial past . Until the 19th century it was a Spanish power, and the majority of its population spoke this language. However, the United States took control of the island in the first half of the 20th century, which has made it one of its official and most widely used languages today.
Bibliographic references
- Krishnaswamy, N. y Krishnaswamy, L. (2006). The story of English in India. Foundation Books.
- Pereltsvaig, A. (2017). Languages of the World. Cambridge University Press.
- Spolsky, B. (1999). Round Table on Language and Linguistics. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
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