List of official languages 192821 226132832 2008-07-16T23:31:28Z 84.80.104.229 {{refimprove|date=June 2008}} __TOC__ ==Official languages of supra-national institutions== See [[List of official languages by institution]]. ==Official languages of [[sovereignty|sovereign countries]]== There are 115 languages in this category. :{{CompactTOC}} <cite id=A> </cite> '''[[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Albanian language|Albanian]]''': *[[Republic of Albania]] *[[Republic of Kosovo]] (with Serbian) *[[Montenegro]] (with Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian) '''[[Amharic language|Amharic]]''': *[[Ethiopia]] '''[[Arabic language|Arabic]]''': *[[Algeria]] *[[Bahrain]] *[[Chad]] (with [[French language|French]]) *[[Comoros]] (with [[French language|French]] and [[Comorian language|Comorian]]) *[[Djibouti]] (with [[French language|French]]) *[[Egypt]] *[[Eritrea]] (with Tigrignan) *[[Iraq]] *[[Israel]] (with [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]) *[[Jordan]] *[[Kuwait]] *[[Lebanon]] *[[Libya]] *[[Mauritania]] *[[Morocco]] *[[Oman]] *''[[Palestinian Authority]]'' *[[Qatar]] *[[Saudi Arabia]] *[[Somalia]] (with [[Somali language|Somali]]) *[[Sudan]] *[[Syria]] *[[Tunisia]] *[[United Arab Emirates]] *[[Western Sahara]] *[[Yemen]] '''[[Armenian language|Armenian]]''': *[[Armenia]] '''[[Assamese language|Assamese]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Assam]] '''[[Aymara language|Aymara]]''': *[[Bolivia]] (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and Quechua) *[[Peru]] (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and Quechua) '''[[Azeri language|Azeri]]''': *[[Azerbaijan]] <cite id=B> </cite> '''[[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]''': *[[Belarus]] (with [[Russian language|Russian]]) '''[[Bengali language|Bengali]]''': *[[Bangladesh]] *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Tripura]] **[[West Bengal]] '''[[Bislama language|Bislama]]''': *[[Vanuatu]] [http://www.vanuatu.gov.vu/government/library/constitution.html] '''[[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]''': *[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (with [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]]) *[[Montenegro]] (with Montenegrin, Serbian, Albanian and Croatian) *[[Serbia]] (in the region of [[Sandžak]]) '''[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]''': *[[Bulgaria]] '''[[Burmese language|Burmese]]''': *[[Myanmar]] <cite id=C> </cite> '''[[Catalan language|Catalan]]''': *[[Andorra]] '''[[Chinese language|Chinese]]''' (see also [[Sinitic languages]]): *[[Republic of China|Republic of China in Taiwan]] ([[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] is spoken, [[Traditional Chinese]] is written; Mandarin is designated as national language) *[[People's Republic of China]] ([[Identification of the varieties of Chinese|varieties of Chinese languages]] are spoken, [[Simplified Chinese character|Simplified Chinese]] is written, [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] is designated as national language) **[[Hong Kong]] ([[Standard Cantonese|Cantonese]] is spoken ''de facto'', [[Traditional Chinese character|Traditional Chinese]] is written; co-official with English) **[[Macau]] (Cantonese is spoken ''de facto'', Traditional Chinese is written; co-official with Portuguese) *[[Singapore]] (Mandarin is spoken, [[Simplified Chinese character|Simplified Chinese]] is written.) (With English, [[Malay language|Malay]] and Tamil) '''[[Croatian language|Croatian]]''' *[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (with [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]]) *[[Croatia]] *part of [[Serbia]] **[[Vojvodina]] (with [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]] and Ruthenian) *[[Montenegro]] (with Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian and Albanian) '''[[Czech language|Czech]]''': *[[Czech Republic]] <cite id=D> </cite> '''[[Danish language|Danish]]''' *[[Denmark]] **[[Faroe Islands]] (with [[Faroese language|Faroese]]) **[[Greenland]] (with [[Kalaallisut language|Kalaallisut]]) '''[[Dari language|Dari]]''': *[[Afghanistan]] (with [[Pashto language|Pashto]]) '''[[Dhivehi language|Dhivehi]]''': *[[Maldives]] '''[[Dutch language|Dutch]]''': *[[Belgium]] (sole official language in [[Flanders]], with [[French language|French]] in [[Brussels]]) *The [[Netherlands]] (sole official language in every province except [[Friesland]], where [[West Frisian]] is co-official) **[[Aruba]] (with [[Papiamento]]) **[[Netherlands Antilles]] (with English and [[Papiamento]]) *[[Suriname]] '''[[Dzongkha language|Dzongkha]]''': *[[Bhutan]] <cite id=E> </cite> '''English''' (see also [[List of countries where English is an official language]]): *[[Antigua and Barbuda]] *[[Australia]] (''de facto'' official language) *[[Bahamas]] *[[Barbados]] *[[Belize]] *[[Botswana]] (but the national language is [[Tswana language|Tswana]]) *[[Canada]] (federally, with [[French language|French]]) *[[Cameroon]] (with [[French language|French]]) *[[Dominica]] *[[Fiji]] (with [[Fijian language|Bau Fijian]] and [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]) *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] **[[Hong Kong]] (with [[Chinese language|Chinese]]) *[[The Gambia]] *[[Ghana]] *[[Grenada]] ([[French-based creole languages|with French creole]]) *[[Guyana]] *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) *[[Republic of Ireland]] (with [[Irish language|Irish]]) *[[Jamaica]] *[[Kenya]] (with [[Swahili language|Swahili]]) *[[Kiribati]] *[[Lesotho]] (with [[Sotho language|Sotho]]) *[[Liberia]] *[[Madagascar]] (with [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]] and English) *[[Malawi]] (with [[Chichewa language|Chichewa]]) *[[Malta]] (with [[Maltese language|Maltese]]) *[[Mauritius]] (with [[French language|French]]) *[[Federated States of Micronesia|Micronesia]] *[[Namibia]]<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/wa00000_.html |title=Namibia - Constitution |publisher=servat.unibe.ch/icl (International Constitutional Law collection) |year=1990 |accessdate=[[2008-05-02]]}} (Article 3)</ref> *[[Netherlands Antilles]] (with [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and [[Papiamento]]) *[[New Zealand]] (with [[Māori language|Māori]] and [[New Zealand Sign Language]]) *[[Nigeria]] *[[Pakistan]] (with [[Urdu]] as the national language) *[[Philippines]] (with [[Filipino language|Filipino]]) *[[Palau]] (with Palauan and Japanese) *[[Papua New Guinea]] (with Tok Pisin and Motu) *[[Rwanda]] (with [[French language|French]] and [[Kinyarwanda]]) *[[St. Kitts and Nevis]] *[[St. Lucia]] (with [[French-based creole languages|French creole]]) *[[St. Vincent and the Grenadines]] ([[French-based creole languages|with French creole]]) *[[Samoa]] (with Samoan) *[[Seychelles]] (with Creole, [[French language|French]]) *[[Sierra Leone]] *[[Singapore]] (with Chinese, [[Malay language|Malay]], Tamil) *[[Solomon Islands]] *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) *[[Swaziland]] (with Swati) *[[Tonga]] *[[Trinidad and Tobago]] *[[Tuvalu]] *[[Uganda]] (with Swahili) *[[United Kingdom]] ([[de facto]]) *[[United States]] ([[de facto]]) *[[Vanuatu]] (with Bislama and [[French language|French]]) *[[Zambia]] *[[Zimbabwe]] '''[[Estonian language|Estonian]]''': *[[Estonia]] <cite id=F> </cite> '''[[Fijian language|Fijian]]''' *[[Fiji]] (with English and [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]) '''[[Filipino language|Filipino]]''': *[[Philippines]] (with English) '''[[Finnish language|Finnish]]''': *[[Finland]] (with [[Finland-Swedish|Swedish]]) '''[[French language|French]]''' (see also [[List of countries where French is an official language]]): *[[Belgium]] (with Dutch and [[German language|German]]) *[[Benin]] *[[Burkina Faso]] *[[Burundi]] (with Kirundi) *[[Cameroon]] (with English) *[[Canada]] (with English) *[[Central African Republic]] *[[Chad]] (with [[Arabic language|Arabic]]) *[[Comoros]] (with Arabic and Comorian) *[[Côte d'Ivoire]] *[[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] *[[Djibouti]] (with [[Arabic language|Arabic]]) *[[Equatorial Guinea]] (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]]) *[[France]] **[[French Guyana]] **[[French Polynesia]] **[[Loyalty Islands|French Loyalty Islands]] **[[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]] **[[Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean]] **[[Guadeloupe]] **[[Martinique]] **[[Mayotte]] **[[New Caledonia]] **[[Réunion]] **[[Saint Barthélemy]] **[[Saint Martin]] **[[Saint Pierre et Miquelon]] **[[Wallis and Futuna]] **([[Adelie land]]) **([[Clipperton Island]]) *[[Gabon]] *[[Guernsey]] (with English) *[[Guinea]] *[[Haiti]] (with [[Haitian Creole]]) *part of [[Italy]] **the [[Aosta Valley]] (with [[Italian language|Italian]]) *[[Jersey]] (with English) *[[Luxembourg]] (with [[German language|German]] and [[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]]) *[[Madagascar]] (with [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]] and English) *[[Mali]] *[[Mauritius]] *[[Monaco]] *[[Niger]] *[[Republic of the Congo]] *[[Rwanda]] (with English and Kinyarwanda) *[[Senegal]] *[[Seychelles]] (with English) *[[Saint Lucia]] (with English) *[[Switzerland]] (with [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], and Rhaeto-Romansch) **[[Geneva (canton)|Geneva]] **[[Vaud]] **[[Canton of Jura|Jura]] **[[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]] **[[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] (with [[German language|German]]) **[[Canton of Bern|Bern]] (with [[German language|German]]) **[[Valais]] (with [[German language|German]]) *[[Togo]] *[[Vanuatu]] (with Bislama and English) '''[[West Frisian language|Frisian (West)]]''': * The [[Netherlands]] (with Dutch) <cite id=G> </cite> '''[[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]''': * [[Moldova]] (with [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]) '''[[Georgian language|Georgian]]''': * [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] '''[[German language|German]]''': *[[Austria]] *[[Belgium]] (with Dutch and [[French language|French]]) *[[Germany]] *[[Liechtenstein]] *[[Luxembourg]] (with [[French language|French]] and [[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]]) *[[Italy]] **Province of [[Autonomous Province of Bolzano-Bozen|Bolzano-Bozen]] (together with [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Ladin language|Ladin]]) *[[Switzerland]] (with [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], and Rhaeto-Romansch) **17 of the [[Cantons of Switzerland|26 cantons]] (monolingually [[German language|German]]) **[[Graubünden]] (with [[Italian language|Italian]] and Romansh) **[[Canton of Bern|Bern]] (with [[French language|French]]) **[[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] (with [[French language|French]]) ** [[Valais]] (with [[French language|French]]) '''[[Greek language|Greek]]''': *[[Greece]] *[[Cyprus]] (with [[Turkish language|Turkish]]) '''[[Guaraní language|Guaraní]]''' *[[Paraguay]] (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]]) '''[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]] **[[Daman and Diu]] **[[Gujarat]] <cite id=H> </cite> '''[[Haitian Creole]]''': *[[Haiti]] (with [[French language|French]]) '''[[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]''': *[[Israel]] (with Arabic) '''[[Hindi language|Hindi]]''' *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) *[[Fiji]] (with English and Bau Fijian; known constitutionally as ''Hindustani'' as an umbrella term to cover [[Urdu language|Urdu]], as well as Hindi.) '''[[Hiri Motu]]''': *[[Papua New Guinea]] (with English and [[Tok Pisin]]) '''[[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]''': *[[Hungary]] *part of [[Slovakia]] *part of [[Serbia]] **[[Vojvodina]] (with Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, Slovak and Ruthenian) *part of [[Romania]] *part of [[Ukraina]] *part of [[Austria]] <cite id=I> </cite> '''[[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]''': *[[Iceland]] '''[[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]''': *[[Indonesia]] '''[[Irish language|Irish Gaelic]]''' is the national and first official language of: *[[Ireland]] (with English) '''[[Italian language|Italian]]''': *[[Eritrea]] *[[Italy]] *[[Switzerland]] (with [[German language|German]] and [[French language|French]]) **[[Ticino]] **[[Graubünden]] (with [[German language|German]] and Rhaeto-Romansh) *[[San Marino]] *[[Vatican City]] (with [[Latin language|Latin]]) *part of [[Croatia]] **[[Istria county]] (with Croatian) *part of [[Slovenia]] **[[Izola]], [[Koper]] and [[Piran]] municipalities (with Slovene) <cite id=J> </cite> '''[[Japanese language|Japanese]]''': *[[Japan]] (de facto) *Part of [[Palau]] **[[Angaur]] (with [[Angaur language|Angaur]] and English) <cite id=K> </cite> '''[[Kannada language|Kannada]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Karnataka]] '''[[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) ** [[Jammu and Kashmir]] '''[[Kazakh language|Kazakh]]''': *[[Kazakhstan]] (with Russian) *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] **[[Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture|Ili]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Barkol Kazak Autonomous County|Barkol]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Mori Kazak Autonomous County|Mori]], with Chinese (Mandarin) '''[[Khmer language|Khmer]]''': *[[Cambodia]] '''[[Korean language|Korean]]''': *[[Democratic People's Republic of Korea]] *[[Republic of Korea]] *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Changbai Korean Autonomous Prefecture|Changbai]] (Jangbaek, Changbaek) **[[Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture|Yanbian]] (Yeonbyeon,Yŏnbyŏn) '''[[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]''': *[[Iraq]] (with Arabic) '''[[Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz]]''': *[[Kyrgyzstan]] (with Russian) *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] **[[Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture|Kizilsu]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) <cite id=L> </cite> '''[[Lao language|Lao]]''': *[[Laos]] '''[[Latvian language|Latvian]]''': *[[Latvia]] '''[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]''': *[[Lithuania]] '''[[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]]''': *[[Luxembourg]] (with [[French language|French]] and [[German language|German]]) <cite id=M> </cite> '''[[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]''': *[[Republic of Macedonia| Republic of Macedonia]] *part of [[Albania]] **[[Korçë]] (with [[Albanian language|Albanian]]) '''[[Malagasy language|Malagasy]]''': *[[Madagascar]] (with [[French language|French]] and English) '''[[Malay language|Malay]]''': *[[Malaysia]] *[[Brunei]] *[[Singapore]] (with English, [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]) '''[[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Kerala]] **[[Pondicherry]] **[[Lakshadweep]] '''[[Maltese language|Maltese]]''': *[[Malta]] (with English) **[[Kunsill Nazzjonali ta' l-Ilsien Malti]] **[[Akkademja tal-Malti]] '''[[Maori language|Māori]]''': *[[New Zealand]] (with English and New Zealand Sign Language) '''[[Marathi language|Marathi]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Maharashtra]] '''[[Moldovan language|Moldovan]]''' (identical to [[#Romanian|Romanian]] according to the law of Moldova<ref name="moldovan">The 1989 Language Law of the [[Moldavian SSR]], which is still in force in Moldova (according to the Constitution [http://www.parlament.md/law/constitution/t7/]) asserts the existence of a "linguistic Moldo-[[Romanian language|Romanian]] identity".[http://ro.wikisource.org/wiki/Legea_cu_privire_la_funcţionarea_limbilor_vorbite_pe_teritoriul_RSS_Moldoveneşti] {{quote|"The law of [[1 September]] [[1989]] regarding the usage of languages spoken on the territory of the Republic of Moldova remains valid, excepting the points where it contradicts this constitution."|Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, Title 7, Article 7}} {{quote|"Moldavian SSR supports the desire of the Moldovans that live across the borders of the Republic, and considering the really existing linguistical Moldo-Romanian identity - of the Romanians that live on the territory of the USSR, of doing their studies and satisfying their cultural needs in their maternal language."|Law regarding the usage of languages spoken on the territory of the Republic of Moldova}} </ref>) *[[Moldova]] '''[[Mongolian language|Mongolian]]''' *[[Mongolia]] *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] **[[Inner Mongolia]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Haixi]], with Tibetan and Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture|Bortala]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Bayin'gholin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture|Bayin'gholin]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Dorbod Autonomous County|Dorbod]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County|Qian Gorlos]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Harqin Left Mongol Autonomous County|Harqin Left]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Fuxin Mongol Autonomous County|Fuxin]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Weichang Manchu and Mongol Autonomous County|Weichang]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Subei Mongol Autonomous County|Subei]], with Chinese (Mandarin) **[[Henan Mongol Autonomous County|Henan]], with Chinese (Mandarin) '''[[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]''': *[[Montenegro]] (with Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian) <cite id=N> </cite> '''[[Ndebele language|Ndebele]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) *[[Zimbabwe]] (with English and [[Shona language|Shona]]) '''[[Nepali language|Nepali]]''': *[[Nepal]] *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Sikkim]] **[[West Bengal]] '''[[New Zealand Sign Language]]''': *[[New Zealand]] (alongside Māori and English) '''[[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]''': *[[Norway]] (two official written forms - ''Bokmål'' and ''Nynorsk'') <cite id=O> </cite> '''[[Oriya language|Oriya]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Orissa]] '''[[Papiamento]]''' *[[Aruba]] (with [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) *[[Netherlands Antilles]] (with English and [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) <cite id=P> </cite> '''[[Pashto language|Pashto]]''': *[[Afghanistan]] (with [[Dari language|Dari]]) *[[Pakistan]] (Official language of [[NWFP]]) '''[[Persian language|Persian]]''': *[[Iran]] *[[Afghanistan]] (called [[Dari-Persian]] in Afghanistan) (with [[Pashto language|Pashto]]) *[[Tajikistan]] (called [[Tajiki-Persian]] in Tajikistan) '''[[Polish language|Polish]]''': *[[Poland]] '''[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]''': *[[Angola]] *[[Brazil]] *[[Cape Verde]] *[[East Timor]] (with [[Tetum]]) *[[Equatorial Guinea]] (since [[July 13]], [[2007]]) (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[French language|French]]) *[[Guinea-Bissau]] *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] **[[Macau]] (with [[Chinese language|Chinese]]) *[[Mozambique]] *[[Portugal]] *[[São Tomé and Príncipe]] '''[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Punjab region|Punjab]] **[[Delhi]] <cite id=Q> </cite> '''[[Quechua language|Quechua]]''' *[[Bolivia]] (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and Aymara) *[[Peru]] (with [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and Aymara) <cite id=R> </cite> '''[[Romanian language|Romanian]]''': *[[Romania]] *[[Moldova]] (official called [[#Moldovan|Moldovan]], although identical to Romanian according to the law of Moldova<ref name="moldovan"/>) *part of [[Serbia]] **[[Vojvodina]] (with Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak and Ruthenian) '''[[Romansh|Rhaeto-Romansh]]''': *[[Switzerland]] (with [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], and [[Italian language|Italian]]) **[[Graubünden]] (with [[German language|German]] and [[Italian language|Italian]]) '''[[Russian language|Russian]]''': *[[Russia]] (in some regions together with regional languages) *[[Belarus]] (with Belarusian) *[[Kazakhstan]] (with Kazakh) *[[Kyrgyzstan]] (with Kyrgyz) *[[Moldova]] (with [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]], [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] and [[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]) <cite id=S> </cite> '''[[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) '''[[Serbian language|Serbian]]''': *[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (with Bosnian, Croatian) *[[Serbia]] *[[Montenegro]] (with Montenegrin, Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian) *[[Kosovo]] (with Albanian) '''[[Shona language|Shona]]''': *[[Zimbabwe]] (with English and [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]]) '''[[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) *[[Pakistan]] (Official language in the Province of [[Sindh]] along with [[Urdu]] and [[English language|English]]) '''[[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]''': *[[Sri Lanka]] (with Tamil, and with English as a link language) '''[[Slovak language|Slovak]]''' *[[Slovakia]] *part of [[Serbia]] **[[Vojvodina]] (with Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Romanian and Ruthenian) '''[[Slovene language|Slovene]]''': *[[Slovenia]] *part of [[Italy]] **[[Friuli Venezia Giulia|Friuli-Venezia Giulia]] (with [[Italian language|Italian]]) *part of [[Austria]] **[[Karnten|Carinthia]] (with [[German language|German]]) '''[[Somali language|Somali]]''': *[[Somalia]] '''[[Sotho language|Sotho]]''': *[[Lesotho]] (with English) *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Spanish language|Spanish]]''': *[[Argentina]] *[[Bolivia]] (with [[Aymara language|Aymara]] and [[Quechua language|Quechua]]) *[[Chile]] *[[Colombia]] *[[Costa Rica]] *[[Cuba]] *[[Dominican Republic]] *[[Ecuador]] *[[El Salvador]] *[[Equatorial Guinea]] (with [[French language|French]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) *[[Guatemala]] *[[Honduras]] *[[Mexico]] (de facto) *[[Nicaragua]] *[[Panama]] *[[Paraguay]] (with [[Guaraní language|Guaraní]]) *[[Peru]] (with [[Aymara language|Aymara]] and [[Quechua language|Quechua]]) *[[Spain]] ([[Aranese language|Aranese]], [[Basque language|Basque]], [[Catalan language|Catalan]], and [[Galician language|Galician]] are co-official in some regions) *[[Uruguay]] *[[Venezuela]] '''[[Swahili language|Swahili]]''': *[[Kenya]] (with English) *[[Tanzania]] (de facto) *[[Uganda]] (since 2005; with English) '''[[Swati language|Swati]]''': *[[Swaziland]] (with English) *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Swedish language|Swedish]]''': *[[Sweden]] (de facto) *[[Finland]] (with [[Finnish (language)|Finnish]]) **[[Åland]] (monolingually Swedish) (an [[Autonomous entity|autonomous]] province under [[Finland|Finnish]] [[sovereignty]]) '''[[Tajik language|Tajik]]''': *[[Tajikistan]] *part of the [[People's Republic of China]] **[[Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County|Taxkorgan]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) '''[[Tamil language|Tamil]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] **[[Pondicherry]] **[[Tamil Nadu]] * [[Singapore]] (with English, [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and Malay) *[[Sri Lanka]] (with Sinhala, and with English as a link language) '''[[Telugu language|Telugu]]''': *[[India]] (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Andhra Pradesh]] **[[Pondicherry]] '''[[Tetum]]''': *[[East Timor]] (with [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) '''[[Thai language|Thai]]''': *[[Thailand]] '''[[Tok Pisin]]''': *[[Papua New Guinea]] (with English and Motu) '''[[Tsonga language|Tsonga]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Tswana language|Tswana]]''': *[[Botswana]] (with English) *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Turkish language|Turkish]]''': *[[Turkey]] *[[Cyprus]] (with [[Greek language|Greek]]) '''[[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]''': *[[Turkmenistan]] <cite id=U> </cite> '''[[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]''': * [[Ukraine]] * [[Moldova]] (with [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]) '''[[Urdu language|Urdu]]''': *'''[[India]]''' (with 22 other [[List of national languages of India|official languages]]) **[[Jammu and Kashmir]] **[[Delhi]] Territory **[[Uttar Pradesh]] state *[[Pakistan]] (with English, Pothowari, Punjabi, Kashmiri (Koshur), Pashto, Sindhi, Siraiki, Balochi and Brahui) *[[Fiji]] (with Englishand Bau Fijian; known constitutionally as ''Hindustani'' as an umbrella term to cover [[Urdu language|Urdu]], as well as Hindi.) '''[[Uzbek language|Uzbek]]''': *[[Uzbekistan]] <cite id=V> </cite> '''[[Venda language|Venda]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]''': *[[Vietnam]] '''[[Welsh language|Welsh]]''': *[[United Kingdom]] ([[Wales]]) (with English) <cite id=W> </cite> <cite id=X> </cite> '''[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) <cite id=Y> </cite> '''[[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]''': * [[Russia]] (only in [[Jewish Autonomous Oblast]], with [[Russian language|Russian]]) <cite id=Z> </cite> '''[[Zulu language|Zulu]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]) ==Ranking of languages by number of sovereign countries in which they are official== *55 countries: [[English language|English]] **largest: [[United States]], [[India]], [[Nigeria]] *29 countries: [[French language|French]] **largest: [[France]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Canada]] *24 countries: [[Arabic language|Arabic]] **largest: [[Egypt]], [[Sudan]], [[Algeria]] *20 countries: [[Spanish language|Spanish]] **largest: [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Colombia]], [[Argentina]] *10 countries: [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] **largest: [[Brazil]], [[Portugal]], [[Mozambique]], [[Angola]] *7 countries: [[German language|German]] **largest: [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Switzerland]] *4 countries: [[Albanian language|Albanian]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], *3 countries: [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]. *2 countries: [[Aymara language|Aymara]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Korean language|Korean]], [[Quechua language|Quechua]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], *1 country: numerous languages ====In Africa:==== *21 countries: [[French language|French]] *19 countries: English *12 countries: [[Arabic language|Arabic]] *6 countries: [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] *3 countries: [[Swahili language|Swahili]] *2 countries: [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]] *1 country: numerous languages ====In the Americas:==== *20 countries: [[Spanish language|Spanish]] *14 countries: English *2 countries: [[Aymara language|Aymara]], [[French language|French]], [[Quechua language|Quechua]] *1 country: [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] *1 country [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ====In Asia:==== *12 countries: [[Arabic language|Arabic]] *4 countries: English *3 countries: [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] *2 countries: [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Korean language|Korean]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]] *1 country: numerous languages ====In Europe:==== *6 countries: [[German language|German]] *5 countries: [[French language|French]] *4 countries: [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]] *3 countries: English, [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Albanian language|Albanian]] *2 countries: [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], *1 country: numerous languages ====In Oceania:==== *12 countries: English *1 country: numerous languages === By number of continents: === *;All 6 continents (besides Antarctica): **English (Africa: 19 countries; North America: 13 countries; Oceania: 12 countries; Asia: 4 countries; Europe: 3 countries; South America: 1 country) *;5 continents: **[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (Africa: 6 countries; South America: 1 country; Europe: 1 country; Asia: 1 country; Oceania: 1 country) **[[French language|French]] (Africa: 21 countries; Europe: 5 countries; North America: 2 countries;South America: 1 country; Oceania: 1 country) *;4 continents: **[[Spanish language|Spanish]] (South America: 9 countries; North America: 8 countries; Europe: 1 country; Africa: 1 country) *;2 continents: **[[Arabic language|Arabic]] (Africa: 12 countries; Asia: 12 countries) **[[Russian language|Russian]] (Europe: 2 countries; Asia: 2 countries) **[[Dutch language|Dutch]] (Europe: 2 countries; The Americas: 1 country) **[[Urdu language|Urdu]] (Asia: 2 countries; Oceania: 1 country) **[[Hindi language|Hindi]] (Asia: 1 country; Oceania: 1 country) **[[Japanese language|Japanese]] (Asia: 1 country; Oceania: 1 country) **[[Italian language|Italian]] (Europe: 1 country; Africa: 1 country) **[[Greek language|Greek]] (Europe:1 country; Asia: 1 country) *;1 continent: *numerous other languages, of which [[German language|German]] (6 countries). == Official languages of subnational entities == {{incomplete list}} '''Aranese''' ''see '''Occitan''''' '''[[Armenian language|Armenian]]: * [[Nagorno Karabagh]] '''[[Basque language|Basque]]''': * [[Basque Autonomous Community]] (with Spanish) * [[Navarre]] (in some areas with Spanish) '''[[Standard Cantonese|Cantonese Chinese]]''': *[[Hong Kong]] (for [[Chinese language]], both Cantonese and [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] are spoken ''de facto''; co-official with English) *[[Macau]] (for Chinese language, both Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken ''de facto''; co-official with Portuguese) '''[[Catalan language|Catalan]]''': *parts of [[Spain]] **[[Balearic Islands]] (with Spanish) **[[Catalonia]] (with Spanish) **[[Valencia (autonomous community)|Valencia]] (named as [[Valencian]], with Spanish) '''[[Chipewyan language|Chipewyan]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, English, French, Gwich'in, Innuinaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) '''[[Cree language|Cree]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Chipewyan, English, French, Gwich'in, Innuinaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) '''[[Dogrib language|Tłįchǫ]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, Chipewyan, English, French, Gwich'in, Innuinaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, and South Slavey) '''English''': *parts of Canada: See also:[[Languages_of_Canada#Official_policies_of_the_Provinces_and_Territories|Official language by province]] :*[[Alberta]] :*[[British Columbia]] :*[[Manitoba]] :*[[Newfoundland and Labrador]] :*[[Nova Scotia]] :*[[Ontario]] :*[[Prince Edward Island]] :*[[Saskatchewan]] :*[[New Brunswick]] (with French) :*[[Northwest Territories]] (with Chipewyan, Cree, French, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Slavey (North and South) and Tłįchǫ) :*[[Nunavut]] (with Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and French) :*[[Yukon]] (with French) *parts of the [[United States]]. See ''[[English-only movement]]''. English is an official language in the following states and territories: **[[Alabama]] **[[Alaska]] **[[Arkansas]] **[[California]] **[[Colorado]] **[[Florida]] **[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] **[[Hawaii]] (with [[Hawaiian language]]) **[[Illinois]] **[[Indiana]] **[[Iowa]] **[[Kentucky]] **[[Massachusetts]] **[[Minnesota]] **[[Mississippi]] **[[Montana]] **[[Nebraska]] **[[New Hampshire]] **[[North Carolina]] **[[North Dakota]] **[[Puerto Rico]] (with Spanish) **[[South Carolina]] **[[South Dakota]] **[[Texas]] **[[Tennessee]] **[[U.S. Virgin Islands]] **[[Utah]] **[[Virginia]] **[[West Virginia]] **[[Wyoming]] '''[[Faroese language|Faroese]]''': *[[Faroe Islands]] (with [[Danish language|Danish]]) '''[[French language|French]]''': *parts of Canada see also [[Languages_of_Canada#Official_policies_of_the_Provinces_and_Territories|Official language by province]] :*[[New Brunswick]] (co-official with English) :*[[Northwest Territories]] (with Chipewyan, Cree, English, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Slavey (North and South) and Tłįchǫ) :*[[Nunavut]] (with English, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut) :*[[Quebec]] :*[[Yukon]] (with English) *[[Pondicherry]] (co-official with [[Tamil language|Tamil]] in the [[Union Territory]] of [[Pondicherry]]. Also [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Malayalam]] are its regional official languages) *[[Aosta]] (co-official with Italian) '''[[Galician language|Galician]]''': *part of [[Spain]] **[[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] (with Spanish) '''[[Gwich'in language|Gwich'in]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, Chipewyan, English, French, Innuinaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) '''[[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]]''': *[[Hawaii]] (co-official with English in the state of Hawaii) '''[[Inuinnaqtun]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, Chipewyan, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) *[[Nunavut]] (with English, French, and Inuktitut) '''[[Inuktitut]]''': *[[Greenland]] (with Danish) *[[Nunavut]] (with English, French, and Inuinnaqtun) *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, Chipewyan, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) '''[[Inuvialuktun]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, Chipewyan, English, French, Gwich'in, Innuinaqtun, Inuktitut, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) '''[[Mazandarani]]''': *[[Iran]] **[[Mazandaran Province|Mazandaran]] '''[[Occitan language|Occitan]] ([[Aranese language|Aranese]])''': *[[Val d'Aran]] (with Catalan and Spanish) '''[[Rusyn language|Rusyn]]''': *[[Vojvodina]] (with Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak) '''[[Sami languages|Sami]]''': *[[Finland]] (in four municipalities) *[[Norway]] (in six municipalities) *[[Sweden]] (in four municipalities and surrounding municipalities) '''[[Slavey languages|North and South Slavey]]''': *[[Northwest Territories]] (with Cree, Chipewyan, English, French, Gwich'in, Innuinaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, and Tłįchǫ (Dogrib)) '''[[Spanish language|Spanish]]''': *[[Puerto Rico]] (with English) '''[[Tahitian language|Tahitian]]''': *[[French Polynesia]] (with French) '''[[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]''': *[[Tibet Autonomous Region]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture|Aba]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Garzê]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Diqing]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Wenshan]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Gannan]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Haibai]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Hainan]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Huangnan]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Golog]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Gyêgu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Gyêgu]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Haixi]] (with Mongolian and Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Muli Tibetan Autonomous County|Muli]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County|Tianzhu]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) '''[[Tswana language|Tswana]]''': *[[South Africa]] (with [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]], English, [[Ndebele language|Ndebele]], [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]], [[Sotho language|Sotho]], [[Swati language|Swati]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Venda language|Venda]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]) '''[[Uyghur language|Uyghur]]''': *[[Xinjiang]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) '''[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]''': *[[Vietnam]] *Part of [[Cambodia]] *Part of [[China]] *Part of [[Laos]] '''[[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]''': *Part of [[Russia]] **[[Jewish Autonomous Oblast]] '''[[Zhuang language|Zhuang]]''': *[[Guangxi]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) *[[Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County|Lianshan]] (with Chinese (Mandarin)) ==See also== *[[List of official languages by state]] *[[Official language]] *[[National language]] *[[List of official languages by institution]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Languages and countries}} [[Category:Lists of languages|*]] [[Category:Countries-languages-related lists|*]] [[Category:Language policy]] [[ang:Getalu ambihtlicra sprǣca]] [[ast:Llista de llingües oficiales]] [[bg:Списък на страните по официален език]] [[de:Liste der Amtssprachen]] [[fr:Liste des langues officielles]] [[ko:국가별 공용어 목록]] [[ka:სახელმწიფო ენების სია]] [[mt:Lista ta' Lingwi Uffiċjali]] [[mn:Албан ёсны хэлнүүдийн жагсаалт]] [[nl:Lijst van officiële talen]] [[ja:公用語の一覧]] [[no:Liste over offisielle språk]] [[oc:Lista de las lengas oficialas]] [[pl:Rozprzestrzenienie języków urzędowych]] [[pt:Anexo:Lista de línguas oficiais]] [[ru:Список государственных языков]] [[fi:Luettelo virallisista kielistä]] [[zh:官方语言列表]]