O. R. SalahudeenLIST OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE
Let me begin this piece List of English speaking countries worldwide with this true story. Sometimes in summer 1980, I travelled with a friend from Greece to the Netherlands purposely to buy a second-hand car. On reaching Amsterdam we were told that the best place to buy the best-used cars in Western Europe is Brussels in Belgium, consequently, we were given addresses of two car shops. Elated, we proceeded to Brussels by train. Being the headquarters of the European Union we believed that there will be no English speaking problem, however to our greatest surprise, all individuals we approached and given the written address failed or refused to communicate in English. They keep saying Flemish Flemish. We were highly frustrated and afraid that we may go back without reaching our destination. We have to approach Belgian police who not only assisted by showing us the right direction but told us on enquiry that most Belgian citizens understand English but have disdain for speaking English, due to their historical nationalistic past. That’s why I studied and compiled LIST of English speaking countries worldwide for your easy reference.
When you decided to visit a country endeavour to know if they do speak English which is regarded as a universal language, in order not to have a frustrating experience. In most cases the facts on the ground is usually different from what you read theoretically.
Here is the complete list of English speaking countries worldwide.
COUNTRIES WITH MAJORITY ENGLISH SPEAKERS
The following countries have more than 50%, English speakers
Despite the fact that some countries have their national language and English is not their native or official language citizens of some countries worldwide do understand and speak English in their daily interactions.
On the other hand, some commonwealth countries prefer their native or local languages in conducting daily business transactions, they only used English in educational or official transactions.
The followings are countries worldwide that have more than 50%, English speakers:
. The United Kingdom 98%
. In the United States of America 95%
. Nigeria 57%
. The Philippines 64%
. Germany 56%
. Canada 86%
. Australia 97%
. The Netherlands 90%
. Sweden 86%
. Belgium 60%
. Israel 85%
. Austria 73%
. Greece 51%
. Sierra Leone 84%
. Denmark 86%
. Switzerland 61%
. Ireland 98%
. Singapore 83%
. Ghana 67%
. New Zealand 98%
. Finland 70%
. Papua New Guinea 50%
. Liberia 83%
. Jamaica 98%
. Hong Kong 53%
. Trinidad and Tobago 98%
. Slovenia 59%
. Guyana 51%
. Estonia 50%
. Cyprus 73%
. Suriname 87%
. Malta 89%
. Luxembourg 56%
. The Bahamas 87%
. Barbados 99%
. Belize 82%
. Vanuatu 84%
. Guam 915
. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 95%
. U.S. Virgin Islands 96%
. Grenada 91%
. Samoa 50%
. Isle of Man 100%
. Northern Mariana Islands 83
. Antigua and Barbuda 80%
. American Samoa 80%
. Micronesia 58%
. Bermuda 100%
. Dominica 94%
. The Marshall Islands 98%
. Saint Kitts and Nevis 78%
. The Cayman Islands 77%
. Gibraltar 100%
. British Virgin Islands 86%
. Palau 92%
. Anguilla 92%
. Nauru 97%
. Montserrat 68%
Countries with 35% – 48% English speakers
. Egypt 35%
. Nepal 36%
. Poland 37%
. Iraq 35%
. Cameroon 38%
. Jordan 45%
. Croatia 49%
. Puerto Rico 49%
. Lebanon 40%
. Lithuania 46%
. Latvia 46%
. France 39%
. Brunei 39%
. Saint Lucia 43%
. Aruba 42%
. Seychelles 38%
STILL ON ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE
Countries where English is considered to be the official language
This can be divided into three categories:
1. Countries where English is the official language and primary language.
2. Countries where English is the official language but not the primary language.
3. Countries where English is a de facto official language and not the essential language
1. COUNTRIES WHERE ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND PRIMARY LANGUAGE:
Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, United Kingdom,
2. COUNTRIES WHERE ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE BUT NOT THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE:
Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, India, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Namibia, Nauru, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
3. COUNTRIES WHERE ENGLISH IS A DE FACTO OFFICIAL LANGUAGE BUT NOT AN ESSENTIAL LANGUAGE:
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cyprus, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Isreal, Jodan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Qatar, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates.
STILL ON THE LIST OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE
COUNTRIES WHERE ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTIONS IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji Islands, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The bottom line on the list of English speaking countries worldwide.
These are what we can put together on English speaking countries worldwide, if you’re from an English speaking country and intend to travel or moving to any country it is important to check if they speak English, otherwise, you may find yourself in a difficult situation which could be very costly sometimes.
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