List of territorial entities where English is an official language

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Map of nations in which English is an official language or majority language (dark blue) or an official language but minority language (light blue, including countries where English-based creoles are the dominant language)

The following is a list of territories where English is an official language, that is, a language used in citizen interactions with government officials. In 2015, there were 67 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language. Many country subdivisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level.

The majority of countries where English is an official language are former territories of the British Empire. Notable exceptions include Rwanda, which was formerly a Belgian colony, and Eritrea, which was an Italian colony where the British Empire maintained control only in World War II and shortly after (1941–1952). English is the sole official language of the Commonwealth of Nations. English is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union and the International Olympic Committee. Although English is not an official language at the national level in the United States, many states and territories within the United States have English as an official language.

Sovereign states

Countries where English is a de jure official language
Country Region Population1 Primary language?
 Antigua and Barbuda[1] Caribbean 85,000 Yes
 Bahamas[1] Caribbean 331,000 Yes
 Barbados[2] Caribbean 294,000 Yes
 Belize[3] Central America / Caribbean 288,000 Yes
 Botswana [3] Africa 1,882,000 No
 Cameroon[1] Africa 18,549,000 No
 Canada[1] North America 33,531,000 Yes (ex. Quebec, parts of New Brunswick)
 Cook Islands14[1] Oceania 20,000 Yes
 Dominica[1] Caribbean 73,000 Yes
 Federated States of Micronesia[1] Oceania 111,000 No
 Fiji[1] Oceania 828,000 No
 Ghana[1] Africa 23,478,000 Yes
 Grenada[1] Caribbean 106,000 Yes
 Guyana[4] South America / Caribbean 738,000 Yes
 India[3][5] Asia 1,247,540,000 No (but official and educational)
 Ireland[6] Europe 4,581,000 Yes
 Jamaica[7] Caribbean 2,714,000 Yes
 Kenya[1] Africa 37,538,000 Yes
 Kiribati[1] Oceania 95,000 No
 Lesotho[1] Africa 2,008,000 Yes
 Liberia[1] Africa 3,750,000 No
 Malawi[8] Africa 13,925,000 No
 Malta[1] Europe 430,000 No
 Marshall Islands[1] Oceania 59,000 No
 Namibia[1] Africa 2,074,000 Yes
 Nauru[9] Oceania 10,000 No
 Nigeria[1][10] Africa 218,093,000 Yes
 Niue14[1] Oceania 1,600 No
 Pakistan[1] Asia 165,449,000 No (but official and educational)
 Palau[3] Oceania 20,000 No
 Papua New Guinea[11][12] Oceania 6,331,000 No
 Philippines[1][13] Asia 100,617,000 No (but official and educational)
 Rwanda[1] Africa 9,725,000 No (but official and educational)
 Saint Kitts and Nevis[14] Caribbean 50,000 Yes
 Saint Lucia[1] Caribbean 165,000 No
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[15] Caribbean 120,000 Yes
 Samoa[16] Oceania 188,000 No
 Seychelles[1] Africa / Indian Ocean 87,000 No
 Sierra Leone[1] Africa 5,866,000 No
 Singapore[17] Asia 5,469,700[18] Yes
 Solomon Islands[1] Oceania 507,000 No
 Somaliland15 Africa 3,500,000 No
 South Africa[19] Africa 52,980,000 No (but official and educational)
 South Sudan[20] Africa 8,260,000 No
 Sudan[1] Africa 31,894,000 No
 Swaziland[1] Africa 1,141,000
 Tanzania[1] Africa 40,454,000 No
 Tonga[21] Oceania 100,000 No
 Trinidad and Tobago[1] Caribbean 1,333,000 Yes
 Tuvalu[3] Oceania 11,000 No
 Uganda[1] Africa 30,884,000 Yes
 Vanuatu[22] Oceania 226,000 No
 Zambia[1] Africa 11,922,000 No
 Zimbabwe[1] Africa 13,349,000 Yes
Countries where English is a de facto official language
Country Region Population Primary language?
 Australia Oceania 23,520,000 Yes
 New Zealand[23] Oceania 4,294,000 Yes
 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Europe 63,705,000 Yes
 United States North America 318,224,000 Yes
Countries where English is a de facto official, but not primary language
Country Region Population1
 Bangladesh[24] Asia 150,039,000
 Brunei[25][26] Asia 415,717
 Eritrea[1] Africa 6,234,000
 Ethiopia[1] Africa 85,000,000
 Israel[27][28][29] Asia / Middle East 8,051,200
 Malaysia[30] Asia 30,018,242
 Sri Lanka[31][32] Asia 20,277,597

Non-sovereign entities

Non-sovereign entities where English is a de jure official language
Entity Region Population1
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia Europe 15,700
 American Samoa11 Oceania 67,700
 Anguilla[1] Caribbean 13,000
 Bermuda9[1] North America 65,000
 British Virgin Islands[1] Caribbean 23,000
 Cayman Islands[3] Caribbean 47,000
 Christmas Island12[1] Australia 1,508
 Curaçao[33] Caribbean 150,563
 Falkland Islands South Atlantic 3,000
 Gibraltar[1] Europe 29,257
 Guam4 Oceania 173,000
 Hong Kong2[1] Asia 7,097,600
 Isle of Man8 Europe 80,058
 Jersey6[1] Europe 89,300
 Norfolk Island[1] Australia 1,828
 Northern Mariana Islands7 Oceania 53,883
 Pitcairn Islands13[1] Oceania 50
 Puerto Rico3 Caribbean 3,991,000
 Sint Maarten[34] Caribbean 40,900
 Turks and Caicos Islands[1] Caribbean 26,000
 U.S. Virgin Islands5 Caribbean 111,000
Non-sovereign entities where English is a de facto official language
Entity Region Population1
 British Indian Ocean Territory Indian Ocean 3,000
 Guernsey10 Europe 61,811
 Montserrat[1] Caribbean 5,900
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha[3] South Atlantic 5,660
Non-sovereign entities where English is a de facto official, but not primary, language
Entity Region Population1
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands[1] Australia 596
 Tokelau[35] Oceania 1,400

Country subdivisions

In these country subdivisions, English has de jure official status, but English is not official in their respective countries at the national level.

Country subdivisions where English is a de jure official language
Subdivision Country Region Population
 Alabama[36]  United States North America 4,833,722
 Alaska[37]  United States North America 735,132
 Amsterdam[38]  Netherlands Europe 826,659
 Arizona[39]  United States North America 6,626,624
 Arkansas[36]  United States North America 2,959,373
 California[36]  United States North America 38,332,521
 Colorado[36]  United States North America 5,268,367
 Florida[36]  United States North America 19,552,860
 Georgia[36]  United States North America 9,992,167
 Hawaii[36]  United States Oceania 1,404,054
 Idaho[36]  United States North America 1,612,136
 Illinois[36]  United States North America 12,882,135
 Indiana[36]  United States North America 6,570,902
 Iowa[36]  United States North America 3,090,416
 Kansas[36]  United States North America 2,893,957
 Kentucky[36]  United States North America 4,395,295
 Mississippi[36]  United States North America 2,991,207
 Montana[36]  United States North America 1,015,165
 Nebraska[36]  United States North America 1,868,516
 New Hampshire[36]  United States North America 1,323,459
 North Carolina[36]  United States North America 9,848,060
  North Dakota[36]  United States North America 723,393
 Oklahoma[40]  United States North America 3,850,568
 Saba[41]  Netherlands Caribbean 1,991
 San Andrés y Providencia[42]  Colombia South America 75,167
 Sarawak[43][44][45]  Malaysia Asia 2,471,140
 Scotland[46]  United Kingdom Europe 5,313,600
 Sint Eustatius[41]  Netherlands Caribbean 3,897
 South Carolina[36]  United States North America 4,774,839
 South Dakota[36]  United States North America 844,877
 Tennessee[36]  United States North America 6,495,978
 Utah[36]  United States North America 2,900,872
 Virginia[36]  United States North America 8,260,405
 Wales[47]  United Kingdom Europe 3,063,456
 Wyoming[36]  United States North America 582,658

See also

Footnotes

^1 The population figures are based on the sources in List of countries by population, with information as of 23 January 2009 (UN estimates, et al.), and refer to the population of the country and not necessarily to the number of inhabitants that speak English in the country in question.
^2 Hong Kong is a former British Crown colony (1843-1981) and British Dependent Territory (1981-1997); it is currently a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (1997- present)
^3 Puerto Rico is, historically and culturally, connected to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean; Spanish is also an official language on the island. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated United States territory referred to as a "Commonwealth"
^4 Guam is an organized unincorporated territory of the United States
^5 The US Virgin Islands is an insular area of the United States
^6 Jersey is a British Crown dependency
^7 The Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States
^8 Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency
^9 Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory
^10 Guernsey is a British Crown dependency
^11 American Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory
^12 Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia
^13 Pitcairn Islands is a British Overseas Territory
^14 The Cook Islands and Niue are associated states of New Zealand that lack general recognition.
^15 Somaliland is a de facto state, recognized internationally as an autonomous region of Somalia.

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 Official language; Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 English usage; Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ The Constitution
  7. ↑ The Constitution of Jamaica (section 20(6e) — implicit)
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. English and Nauruan are official.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (See Article XIV, Section 7)
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Languages for official legislation are Samoan and English.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. English and Tongan are listed as official.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ "[T]eaching of English continued in primary,secondary and tertiary level not because it was the official language but it became thelanguage of trade and commerce. Over the years, the prominence of English continued to rise. ... English language is dominantly present in every side of our national life while on the other hand in our constitution it is clearly declared that the language of the country is Bengali. In fact, nothing is said about the status of English language in our constitution. On one hand, economic activities in the private companies are carried out in English while there is a government law (Bengali procholon ain1987) that government offices must use Bengali in their official works. So from the government point of view Bengali is the national-official language of Bangladesh and English is the most important foreign language. But in reality English is the second language of the country and in many places English is more important than Bengali in Bangladesh." http://www.scribd.com/doc/53272796/Sucess-of-English-language-in-Bangladesh-rec
  25. ↑ English is a "Statutory national working language." Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2013. "Brunei." Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Seventeenth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online edition: https://www.ethnologue.com/country/BN Accessed 30 March 2014.
  26. ↑ Under the constitution of 1959, Malay is the official language of Brunei; but English may be used "for all official purposes." Laws are written in English and Malay, with the English version being the authoritative one. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ "English remains an active second language, and serves as the medium of instruction for maths and sciences in all public schools. Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. Malaysian English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a colloquial form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The government discourages the misuse of Malay and has instituted fines for public signs that mix Malay and English." Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ English is a "De facto national working language, used in government." Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2013. "Sri Lanka." Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Seventeenth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online edition: https://www.ethnologue.com/country/LK Accessed 30 March 2014.
  32. ↑ Under the constitution of 1978, Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages of Sri Lanka, but English is "the link language." Any person is entitled "to receive communications from, and to communicate and transact business with, any official in his official capacity" in English, to receive an English translation of "any official register, record, publication or other document," and "to communicate and transact business in English." English translations must be made for "all laws and subordinate legislation," "all Orders, Proclamations, rules, by-laws, regulations and notifications." Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ According to Art. 1 para 2. Constitution of Sint Maarten: "The official languages are Dutch and English"
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ 36.00 36.01 36.02 36.03 36.04 36.05 36.06 36.07 36.08 36.09 36.10 36.11 36.12 36.13 36.14 36.15 36.16 36.17 36.18 36.19 36.20 36.21 36.22 36.23 36.24 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 English can be used in relations with the government
    Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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