Francophones

Francophones are people who speak French as a first language or use French as a common language within multilingual communities. The term also encompasses the networks, cultures, and countries where French is widely spoken or officially recognized. Francophone communities include native speakers and people who use French as a second language in education, work, media, and administration. The linguistic landscape is diverse, with many varieties such as Metropolitan French, Québécois, Belgian and Swiss French, West and Central African French, and French-based creoles in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.

Geographically, French has a global footprint spanning Europe, Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia and the Pacific. It is an official language in several European states and is widely used in government and education in francophone Africa. In Canada, French is an official language with a strong presence in Quebec and other provinces; in the Caribbean and the Pacific, it is used in several territories and islands, often alongside local languages. Approximately 300 million people are reported to speak French as a first or second language, making it one of the world's major languages. The Francophone world is organized around the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), which promotes French language, cultural exchange, education, and cooperation among member states and governments.

Francophone communities face issues common to multilingual contexts, such as balancing the promotion of French with local languages, and adapting education and media to regional realities. Despite regional differences, French continues to play a central role in governance, diplomacy, science, literature, and media across many countries.