The following is a list of territories where English is an official language. As of 2019, there were 55 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign states where English was an official language.
Overview
British Empire
Most countries where English is a prominent or official language are former colonies of the British Empire. Notable exceptions include Rwanda, which was a former Belgian colony, and Eritrea, which was an Italian colony where the British Empire controlled it only in World War II and shortly after (19411952).
English is the sole official language of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Commonwealth Games.
International organizations
English is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union and the International Olympic Committee.
United States
Although English is not classified as an official language in the United States. Instead, many states and regions within the U.S. do have English as an official language.
India
India's linguistic picture is complex. According to the Constitution of India, "Hindi in the Devanagari script" is the official language of the union; and English the 'subsidiary official language'; however, English must be used for the official texts of all federal laws and Supreme Court decisions (with Hindi). It is one of the two languages of the Indian Parliament. English is taught in schools. The quality and effectiveness of the teaching is very varied. English is used almost exclusively for higher education.
Pakistan
The situation of Pakistan is also complex. While the national language is Urdu, English is an official language and used in business, government and law.
Sovereign states
Non-sovereign entities
Country subdivisions
In these country subdivisions, English has de jure official status, but English is not official in their relevant countries at the national level.
Related pages
Anglo-America
Commonwealth of Nations
British Overseas Territories
English-speaking world
List of countries by English-speaking population
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.). 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 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 are not really known. Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of Australia