European languages in Africa (2023)

This map was published Antonia Blankenberg in 2023 as part of the initiative #30DayMapChallenge.

This illustration shows the use of European languages in Africa, reflecting its colonial past. The different colours highlight the most common languages, while the fill type indicates whether it is the first language (solid colour) or the second language (hatched colour):

  • French, in purple.
  • English, in dark grey.
  • Portuguese, in yellow.
  • Spanish, in black.

Almost the entire African continent uses a language inherited from Europe. The exceptions are limited to Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia.

You can find more information about the initiative here. #30DayMapChallenge in what I wrote in the newsletter.

Sources


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