List of countries and territories where English is an official language

The following is a list of countries and territories where English is an official language used in citizen interactions with government officials. , there are 58 sovereign states and 28 non-sovereign entities where English is an official language. Many administrative divisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level.

Most states where English is an official language are former territories of the British Empire. Exceptions include Rwanda and Burundi, which were formerly German and then Belgian colonies; Cameroon, where only part of the country was under the British mandate; and Liberia, the Philippines, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, which were American territories. English is the sole official language of the Commonwealth of Nations and of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). English is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Caribbean Community, the Union of South American Nations, and many other international organisations.

The United Kingdom, Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, and the United States do not have English as a de jure official language, but it is the de facto working language for their governments.

Sovereign states English is a de jure official language

Country ISO code Geographic region Population Primary language?Official language; BHS Caribbean 403,680 BRB Caribbean 282,682 English usage; BLZ Central America 288,000 BWA Africa 2,549,207 BDI Africa 10,114,505 CMR Africa 22,534,532 CAN North America 40,267,385 DMA Caribbean 65,744 SWZ Africa 1,141,000 FJI Oceania 828,000 GMB Africa 1,709,000 GHA Africa 35,297,060 GRD Caribbean 111,000 GUY South America 738,000 IND Asia 1,468,675,319 The ConstitutionIRL Europe 5,327,721 The Constitution of Jamaica (section 20(6e) ? implicit)JAM Caribbean 2,714,000 KEN Africa 57,927,713 KIR Oceania 95,000 LSO Africa 2,008,000 LBR Africa 3,750,000 MWI Africa 16,407,000 MLT Europe 537,000 MHL Oceania 59,000 FSM Oceania 110,000 NAM Africa 2,074,000 English and Nauruan are official.NRO Oceania 10,000 NZL Oceania5,361,000 NGA Africa 182,202,000 PAK Asia 256,660,152 PLW Oceania 20,000 PNG Oceania 7,059,653 PHL Asia 110,864,327 RWA Africa 13,240,439 KNA Caribbean 50,000 LCA Caribbean 165,000 VCT Caribbean 120,000 Languages for official legislation are Samoan and English.WSM Oceania 188,000 SYC Africa / Indian Ocean 87,000 SLE Africa 6,190,280 SGP Asia 5,469,700 SLB Oceania 507,000 ZAF Africa 65,019,298 SSD Africa 12,340,000 SDN Africa 40,235,000 TZA Africa 51,820,000 English and Tongan are listed as official.TON Oceania 100,000 TTOCaribbean 1,333,000 TUV Oceania 11,000 UGA Africa 47,053,690 VUT Oceania 226,000 ZMB Africa 16,212,000 ZWE Africa 15,178,957

English is a predominant language without de jure designation as official In these countries, English is conventionally spoken by both the government and main population, despite it having no de jure official status at national level.

Country ISO code Geographic region Population Primary language?ATG Caribbean 85,000 AUS Oceania 26,461,166 GBR Europe 68,138,484 USA North America 339,665,118

English is a de facto working language While English is not recognised as de jure official in these countries, it is used as a working language in administration and many professional sectors, as well as being a primary language in the education system.

Country ISO code Geographic region PopulationBAN Asia 169,828,911BRN Asia 440,715BFAAfrica24,736,828ERI Africa 6,234,000ISR Asia / Middle East 8,051,200MYS Asia32,730,000MUS Africa / Indian Ocean 1,262,000English 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.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." LKA Asia 20,277,597 Portuguese and Tetum are listed as official, English and Indonesian are listed as official working languages.TLS Asia 1,340,513ARE Asia / Middle East 9,809,000

Non-sovereign entities English is a de jure official language Entity Sovereign state Region Population Primary language? Europe 15,700 (Greek) Oceania 67,700 (Samoan) Caribbean 18,090 (English-based creole) North Atlantic 65,000 Caribbean 47,000 (English-based creole) Oceania 20,000 (Māori) Caribbean 150,563 (Portuguese-based creole) and South America 3,000 Europe 33,000 Oceania 173,000 (co-official with Chamorro) Asia 7,097,600 (co-official with Chinese) Europe 80,058 Europe 89,300 Oceania 1,600 (Niuean) Oceania 1,828 (English-based creole) Oceania 53,883 (co-official with Chamorro) Oceania 50 (English-based creole) Caribbean 3,991,000 (co-official with Spanish as the primary language) According to Art. 1 para 2. Constitution of Sint Maarten : "The official languages are Dutch and English" Caribbean 40,900 North Atlantic 26,000 (English-based creole) Caribbean 111,000 (English-based creole) Caribbean 23,000 (English-based creole)

English is a de facto official language

Entity Sovereign state Region Population Indian Ocean 3,000 Europe 61,811 Caribbean 5,900 South Atlantic 5,660

English is a de facto official, but not a primary language

Entity Sovereign state Region Population Southeast Asia 1,508 Southeast Asia 596 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 San Andrés y ProvidenciaSouth America 75,167 Asia 2,471,140 English can be used in relations with the governmentCaribbean 1,991 3,897 Europe 5,424,800 3,125,000

U.S. states

As of 2025, 32 out of the 50 states of the United States have designated English as their official language.

+ U.S. states where English is a de jure official language Subdivision Region Population North America 4,833,722 735,132 6,626,624 2,959,373 38,332,521 5,268,367 21,299,325 10,519,475 Oceania 1,404,054 North America 1,612,136 12,882,135 6,570,902 3,090,416 2,893,957 4,395,295 4,657,757 6,794,422 2,991,207 6,083,672 1,015,165 1,868,516 1,323,459 9,848,060 723,393 3,850,568 4,774,839 844,877 6,495,978 2,900,872 8,260,405 1,844,128 582,658

List of countries and territories where English is an official language

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