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La Francophonie… by the numbers
2013
March 20, 2013, marks the International Day of La Francophonie.
With two official languages, English and French, Canada is a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie , otherwise known as La Francophonie.
What is La Francophonie? It is a group of 57 member states and 20 observer states. Member states include France, Canada, the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick and many other countries worldwide.
The concept of francophonie refers to a population for whom French constitutes the mother tongue, the common language, the official language of its country or for whom French is historically or culturally significant.
Here are some facts on assorted topics related to La Francophonie.
(Last updated: March 6, 2013)
The French language in Canada
10 million — The number of people in Canada in 2011 who reported that they had the ability to conduct a conversation in French.
7.3 million — The number of people in Canada in 2011 who reported that their mother tongue is French.
7.9 million — The number of people in Canada in 2011 who reported that they spoke French at home at least on a regular basis.
7.7 million — The number of people in Canada in 2011 who reported French as their first official language spoken.
Source: 2011 Census, French and the francophonie in Canada.
See also: Visual Census — Language, Canada.
26% — The proportion of Canadians who reported using French at work in 2006.
Source: Using Languages at Work in Canada, 2006 Census: Findings.
See also: Statistics by subject, Languages, French language groups.
The 2011 Census provides information on various aspects of the population's linguistic practices and characteristics. The 2011 National Household Survey, the results of which will be released in 2013, also includes one question on the knowledge of non-official languages and questions on the use of languages at work.
Watch The Daily for 2011 National Household Survey data on language (May 8, 2013) and on language of work (June 26, 2013).
French Canadians
Nearly 10 million — The number of people in Canada who reported “French” or “French origins” as their ethnic origin in 2006 (alone or in combination with other origins).
Source: Population by selected ethnic origins, by province and territory (2006 Census) (Canada).
Watch The Daily for 2011 National Household Survey data on ethnic origin (May 8, 2013).
Francophones in the world
For comparison purposes, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie defines a Francophone as anyone who can conduct a sustained conversation in French.
220 million — The estimated number of Francophones worldwide in 2010.
370 million to 770 million —The projected number of Francophones worldwide in 2060 (according to various predictions), mostly in Africa and in Haiti.
5th — The rank of Canada, when it comes to the population of Francophones.
| Rank | Population of Francophones, 2010 | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 62,483,600 | France |
| 2 | 30,990,000 | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| 3 | 11,200,000 | Algeria |
| 4 | 10,366,000 | Morocco |
| 5 | 9,590,700 | Canada |
2.1 million — The estimated number of French-speaking individuals in the United States.
11 million — The estimated number of individuals in the United States who reported “French” or “French Canadian” as their ethnic origin in 2010.
Sources: Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Le dénombrement des francophones; American Community Survey, 2010.
Canada’s trade with France
$3.08 billion — The total value of exports from Canada to France in 2011.
$5.55 billion — The total value of imports to Canada from France in 2011.
Source: Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database.
Travel to and from France
6th — The rank of France as a travel destination for Canadians in 2011, after the United States, Mexico, Cuba, the United Kingdom, and the Dominican Republic.
732,000 — The number of visits by Canadians to France in 2011.
3rd — The rank of France as a source of visitors to Canada in 2011, after the United States and the United Kingdom.
422,400 — The number of trips to Canada by visitors from France in 2011.
Source: Custom tabulation provided by Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics Division, Statistics Canada.
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See features on many other subjects in Previous By the numbers.
