List of territorial entities where English is an official language

The following is a list of countries and territories where English is an official language—that is, a language used in citizen interactions with government officials. , there were 59 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities where English was 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 national territory was under 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, NAFTA, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Caribbean Community, the Union of South American Nations, and many other international organisations. Although English is not ''de jure'' an official language at the national level in the United States, most states and territories within the United States have English as an official language, and only Puerto Rico uses a language other than English as a primary working language.

The United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, where the overwhelming majority of native English speakers reside, do not have English as an official language ''de jure'', but English is considered their ''de facto'' official language because it dominates in these countries.

Sovereign states

Non-sovereign entities

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.

See also

*English-only movement
* Anglo-America
* Commonwealth of Nations
**Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations
*British Overseas Territories
*English-speaking world
*List of countries by English-speaking population
*List of languages by total number of speakers
*British Empire

Footnotes

: 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.
: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).
: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".
:Guam is an organized unincorporated territory of the United States
:The US Virgin Islands is an insular area of the United States.
:Jersey is a British Crown dependency.
:The Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States.
:The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency.
:Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory.
:Guernsey is a British Crown dependency.
:American Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory.
:Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia.
:Pitcairn Islands is a British Overseas Territory.
:The Cook Islands and Niue are associated states of New Zealand that lack general recognition.
:Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of Australia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Countries and territories
English-only movement
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English as a global language
English as an official language