Everyday world · Updated September 2026
Official languages by country
Official language means the language a state uses in law and government. Some countries have one; India, South Africa and Switzerland have several.
An official language is the one a government uses in laws, courts and schools (or one of several). It is not always the language most people speak at home. Many African and South Asian states use a colonial language in government and local languages at home.
The United States has no official language at the federal level in the usual sense — English is the working language. Canada is officially bilingual (English and French). Switzerland has four national languages. South Africa has twelve official languages (including South African Sign Language).
India’s Constitution names Hindi in Devanagari as the official language of the Union and continues English for official purposes; states add their own official languages. For “most spoken,” use the languages page — the two questions are different.
Official languages by country — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| USA (federal) | No single official-language statute; English is the working language |
| Canada | English and French |
| Switzerland | German, French, Italian, Romansh |
| India (Union) | Hindi plus English for official Union work; states vary |
| South Africa | 12 official languages (2023 amendment added SASL) |
| UN official languages | 6 |
| Official ≠ most spoken | True in many countries |
| Arabic / Spanish / French | Official across many states each |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
What is the official language of the United States?
English is the de facto national language. There is no single federal official-language law that matches, say, France’s.
How many official languages does India have?
At Union level, Hindi and the continued use of English. Scheduled languages and state official languages add many more. Do not write “only Hindi.”
Which country has the most official languages?
Bolivia and South Africa are the usual textbook answers (more than ten).