How many countries speak Portuguese and which ones?

Answer 1

The Portuguese language is spoken on all seven continents, and at least 33 countries. And that includes Antarctica, where Brazil maintains a scientific presence. Countries that specifically are identified as having Portuguese speaking communities within their populations tend to be the southwest European country of Portugal; and the former Portuguese colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. But the numbers of Portuguese speakers, and the places where Portuguese is spoken, keep increasing. For example, in 1985, Portugal joined the European Union. So Portuguese now is considered one of the Union languages. And Portuguese speakers now are found in the European countries of Andorra, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland.

Those countries in Africa include the former colonies of Angola, Cape Verde Islands, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe. in all five former colonies, the official language remains Portuguese, even in the aftermath of independence. Additionally, the Portuguese influence and number of language speakers are such that Equatorial Guinea now considers Portuguese an official language along with Spanish and French. In fact, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, and Senegal now belong to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries in the World. And numbers are increasing in Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Those countries in the Americas include the former colony of Brazil, where the official language remains Portuguese, even in the aftermath of independence. Portuguese is a required subject for schoolchildren in neighboring Argentina and Uruguay, where the official languages nevertheless remain Spanish. The language also is recognized as one of the nine regional languages of importance to The Co-operative Republic of Guyana, where the official language nevertheless remains English. To far lesser degrees, it's spoken in the South American countries of Bolivia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela. And it's also spoken in the Caribbean American island nations of Barbados and Netherlands Antilles.

Those countries in Asia include the former colonies of East Timor; Daman and Goa in India; and Macau. In the case of East Timor and Macau, the official language remains Portuguese, even in the aftermath of independence. But on the former island, that status is shared with Tetum. And on the former enclave on the Chinese mainland, that status is shared with Chinese.

Answer 2

A total of 9 countries speak Portuguese as their official language. These countries are Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.