<ã> The Portuguese language
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< Modern Portuguese The Lusophone world >

3. The Portuguese language throughout the world

It has been estimated that between 190 and 230 million people speak Portuguese throughout the world. Portuguese is the eighth most spoken language on the planet, and after English and Spanish (or Castilian), the third most spoken language of the West.

Portuguese is the official language of the following eight countries spread across four continents:

  • Angola (10.9 million inhabitants)
  • Brazil (185 million)
  • Cape Verde (415,000)
  • East Timor (800,000)
  • Guinea-Bissau (1.4 million)
  • Mozambique (18.8 million)
  • Portugal (10.5 million)
  • Sao Tome and Principe (182,000)
Europe Asia
South America Africa

Since Portugal joined the organisation in 1986, Portuguese has been one of the official languages of the European Union, or EU (which was formerly known as the European Economic Community, or EEC). Furthermore, in the countries that form a part of Mercosul, although with the exception of Brazil where it is the official language, Portuguese is taught as a foreign language in accordance with the agreement that was signed by the member nations to create the Common Market of Southern Latin America.

In 1996, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (with the acronym of CPLP in Portuguese) was formed with the aim of increasing co-operation and cultural interchange between members, as well as standardising and diffusing the Portuguese language itself.


Index

3.1. The Lusophone world
3.2. Portuguese in Europe
3.2.a. Portugal
3.2.b. Galician
3.3. Portuguese in the Americas
3.3.a. The History of the language in Brazil
3.3.b. Brazilian dialectal zones
3.4. Portuguese in Africa
3.4.a. Angola
3.4.b. Cape Verde
3.4.c. Guinea-Bissau
3.4.d. Mozambique
3.4.e. Sao Tome and Principe
3.4.f. Other regions of Africa
3.5. Portuguese in Asia
3.5.a. East Timor
3.5.b. Other regions of Asia
< Modern Portuguese The Lusophone world >
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Last updated: Feb/09/2006