French-Speaking Countries in Africa
The 21 African countries where French is an official or working language.
Last updated: September 2026
French is an official or working language in 21 African countries, more than any other language on the continent. The largest French-speaking country is DR Congo, with about 109 million people, and Kinshasa is often described as the world's largest French-speaking city. French is also widely used, without official status, in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and Mauritius.
| Country | Capital | Region | Population | Status of French |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | Porto-Novo | West Africa | 14.5 million | Official |
| Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou | West Africa | 23.5 million | Working language (since 2023; national languages are official) |
| Burundi | Gitega | East Africa | 14.0 million | Official, with Kirundi and English |
| Cameroon | Yaoundé | Central Africa | 29.1 million | Official, with English |
| Central African Republic | Bangui | Central Africa | 5.3 million | Official, with Sango |
| Chad | N'Djamena | Central Africa | 20.3 million | Official, with Arabic |
| Comoros | Moroni | East Africa | 0.87 million | Official, with Comorian and Arabic |
| Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Yamoussoukro | West Africa | 31.9 million | Official |
| Djibouti | Djibouti City | East Africa | 1.17 million | Official, with Arabic |
| DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) | Kinshasa | Central Africa | 109.3 million | Official |
| Equatorial Guinea | Malabo | Central Africa | 1.89 million | Official, with Spanish and Portuguese |
| Gabon | Libreville | Central Africa | 2.54 million | Official |
| Guinea | Conakry | West Africa | 14.8 million | Official |
| Madagascar | Antananarivo | East Africa | 32.0 million | Official, with Malagasy |
| Mali | Bamako | West Africa | 24.5 million | Working language (since 2023; national languages are official) |
| Niger | Niamey | West Africa | 27.0 million | Working language, with English (since 2025) |
| Republic of the Congo | Brazzaville | Central Africa | 6.3 million | Official |
| Rwanda | Kigali | East Africa | 14.3 million | Official, with Kinyarwanda, English and Swahili |
| Senegal | Dakar | West Africa | 18.5 million | Official |
| Seychelles | Victoria | East Africa | 0.13 million | Official, with Seychellois Creole and English |
| Togo | Lomé | West Africa | 9.5 million | Official |
Population: UN 2024 estimates. "Working language" means French is still used in government and education but no longer has the title of official language: Mali (2023 constitution), Burkina Faso (2023 constitutional amendment) and Niger (2025 transitional charter) changed its status.
French-Speaking Countries by Region
- West Africa (8): Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
- Central Africa (7): Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
- East Africa (6): Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles
How French Spread in Africa
French arrived mainly through colonial rule. France governed French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa from the late 19th century until 1960, as well as Madagascar, Djibouti and Comoros, and Belgium ruled the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. After independence most of these states kept French as a language of government and schooling. It is usually a second language: most people speak African languages such as Wolof, Bambara, Mooré, Lingala, Kinyarwanda or Malagasy at home. Rwanda switched its school system largely to English in 2008 but kept French as an official language.
Many of these countries use one of the two CFA francs, and most belong to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Africa is now home to the majority of the world's French speakers. See also English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many African countries speak French?
French is an official or working language in 21 African countries. It is also widely spoken, without official status, in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and Mauritius.
What is the largest French-speaking country in Africa?
DR Congo, with about 109 million people. By area, DR Congo is also the largest, followed by Chad and Niger.
Is French still official in Mali and Burkina Faso?
French is no longer an official language in Mali (since the 2023 constitution) or Burkina Faso (since a 2023 constitutional amendment), but it remains a working language used in government and education. Niger made a similar change in 2025.
Is French spoken in Morocco and Algeria?
Yes, widely, especially in business, higher education and the media, but it is not an official language. Arabic and Tamazight are the official languages in both countries.