
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) holds the surprising title of being the world’s largest French-speaking country. While you might think France or Belgium would hold that crown, the DRC surpasses them in sheer numbers of French speakers. But how did this Central African nation come to dominate the French-speaking world?
It all started back in the late 19th century, when Belgium took over as the colonial ruler. Unlike some British colonies that let local languages thrive alongside English, the Belgian government had a strict “French-only” rule in schools, government, and business. It was their way of keeping control—and if you wanted an education or a job, you needed to speak French!
Fast forward to independence, and the DRC decided to keep French as its official language. With over 200 languages spoken across the country, French became the easiest way to unite everyone. Though the DRC has its national languages like Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, and Tshiluba, French remains the go-to for education, government, and communication.
What really sets the DRC apart is its size. With a population of over 95 million people and growing, around 40% of them speak French. That’s about 40 million people—more than in France or Canada!
It’s not just about history though; French is deeply woven into the fabric of Congolese life. It’s what people learn in school, what they hear on the news, and how the government operates. French isn’t just a relic of the past—it’s a key part of how the DRC stays connected, both within its borders and with the global Francophone community.
And as the DRC continues to grow, so will its French-speaking population, cementing its place as the world’s largest French-speaking country.
Vodina Sam
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