List of countries and territories where Arabic is an official language
Arabic is the lingua franca of people who live in countries of the Arab world as well as of Arabs who live in the diaspora, particularly in Latin America (especially Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile and Colombia) or Western Europe (like France, Spain, Germany or Italy).
Sovereign states where Arabic is an official language
As of 2024, there are 24 sovereign states where Modern Standard Arabic is an official language. The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where Arabic is an official language.
No. | Sovereign state | Population | Notes | Member state of the Arab League | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Algeria | 41,701,000 | Co-official language, along with Berber |
Yes | ||
2 | Bahrain | 1,343,000 | Official language | Yes | ||
3 | Chad | 10,329,208 | Co-official language, along with French | Observer status | ||
4 | Comoros | 798,000 | Co-official language, along with Comorian and French |
Yes | ||
5 | Djibouti | 810,179 | Co-official language, along with French | Yes | ||
6 | Egypt | 102,442,939 | Official language | Yes | ||
7 | Iraq | 36,004,552 | Co-official language, along with Kurdish | Yes | ||
8 | Jordan | 6,655,000 | Official language | Yes | ||
9 | Kuwait | 2,789,000 | Official language | Yes | ||
10 | Lebanon | 4,965,914 | Official language | Yes | ||
11 | Libya | 6,244,174 | Official language | Yesa | ||
12 | Mali | 21,359,722 | Co-official language, along with 12 other languages | No | ||
13 | Mauritania | 3,359,185 | Official language | Yes | ||
14 | Morocco | 35,250,000 | Co-official language, along with Berber | Yes | ||
15 | Oman | 4,055,418 | Official language | Yes | ||
16 | Palestineb | 4,484,000 | Official language in the State of Palestinec | Yes | ||
17 | Qatar | 2,155,446 | Official language | Yes | ||
18 | Saudi Arabia | 30,770,375 | Official language | Yes | ||
19 | Somalia | 10,428,043 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Yes | ||
20 | Sudan | 40,235,000 | Official language | Yes | ||
21 | Syriad | 20,956,000 | Official language | Yes | ||
22 | Tunisia | 10,982,754 | Official language | Yes | ||
23 | Tanzania | 63,852,892 Demographics of Tanzania | official language Along with Swahili | No | ||
24 | United Arab Emirates | 9,346,129 | Official language | Yes | ||
25 | Yemen | 23,833,000 | Official language | Yese | ||
– | Total | 417,338,722 | Arabic Language International Council | Arab League | ||
a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives (Libya) (which is disputed by the Muslim Brotherhood-led General National Congress and Government of National Accord). b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. c. The |
States with limited recognition and territories where Arabic is an official language
The following is a list of states with limited recognition as well as territories where Arabic is an official or de facto official language.
No. | State/Territory | Population | Notes | Member state of the Arab League | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Somalilanda | 5,700,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali and English | No | ||
2 | Zanzibarb | 1,303,569 | Co-official language, along with Swahili and English | No | ||
3 | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republicc | 502,585 | Co-official language, along with Spanish | No | ||
a. Internationally recognised as part of Somalia. |
Countries where Arabic is a national/working language or a recognized minority language
As of 2016, there are 5 independent countries where Arabic is a national/working language or a recognized minority language, but not primary language. The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where Arabic is a national language or a recognized minority language.
No. | Country | Population | National/Working language or minority language |
Continent |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cyprus[note 1] | 875,900 | Minority language | Asia, Europe |
2 | Eritrea | 6,380,803 | Working language | Africa |
3 | Iran | 83,145,546 | Minority language | Asia |
4 | Niger | 22,314,743 | National language | Africa |
5 | Senegal | 16,209,125 | National language | Africa |
– | Total | 128,926,117 |
Cyprus
Cypriot Arabic (alongside Armenian) is one of the two recognized minority languages of Cyprus, since 2008.[3] It is spoken by the Maronite community, which is a minority in Cyprus especially in the cities Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.
Cypriot Arabic (also known as Cypriot Maronite Arabic) is taught at the Elementary School of St. Maron, which is located in Anthoupolis southern of Nicosia, Cyprus.[4]
Eritrea
Debate exists over the extent of Arabic in Eritrea; the government position is that the language was introduced by the British and is only in use by a professional elite and the Rashaida minority, whereas others have taken the view the language acts as the lingua franca of the country's Muslims.[5] Eritrea is an observer state in the Arab League.
Iran
Arabic is a recognized minority language of Iran. In addition, the constitution recognizes the Arabic language as the language of Islam, giving it a formal status as the language of religion, and regulates its spreading within the Iranian national curriculum. After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Arabic (as the language of Quran) became mandatory for pupils in Iran. Arabic courses are mandatory starting from 6th year of schooling (1st year of Middle School) until the 11th year (penultimate year of High School).
The local
There are several TV channels in Arabic language broadcasting from Iran, namely, Al-Alam, Al-Kawthar TV, iFilm, Ahwazna TV, Al Ahwaz TV and Al-Ahvaz TV. Currently, the sole newspaper in Arabic language published in Iran is Kayhan Al Arabi out of 23 Persian dailies and three English dailies newspapers in Iran.
In 2008, the public university Payame Noor University declared that Arabic will be the "second language" of the university, and that all its services will be offered in Arabic, concurrent with Persian.[6]
Niger
Arabic is one of the recognized national languages in Niger. Arabic is spoken by a minority in Niger especially by the Diffa Arabs (also known as Mahamid Arabs) an Arab nomadic tribespeople who is living in eastern Niger, mostly in the Diffa Region.
Senegal
Arabic is one of the recognized national languages in Senegal. Hassaniya Arabic is spoken by a minority in Senegal.[7]
Countries where Arabic has a special status according to the constitution
As of 2018, there are 5 independent countries where Arabic has a special status according to the constitution. The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where Arabic has a special status according to the constitution.
No. | Country | Population | Official language(s) | Other recognized language(s) |
Continent | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Iran | 83,145,546 | Persian | Arabica | Asia | |
2 | Israelb | 9,149,960 | Hebrew | Arabicc | Asia | |
3 | Pakistan | 218,396,000 | Urdu, English | Arabicd | Asia | |
4 | Philippines | 100,981,437 | Filipino, English | "Regional Languages", Spanish, Arabice | Asia | |
5 | South Africa | 60,142,978 | Sepedi, Setswana, South African Sign Language Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati (Swazi), Tshivenda, isiNdebele |
Khoi, Nama, San, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Portuguese, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Arabicf | Africa | |
– | Total | 471,815,921 | ||||
a. ^ The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes the Arabic language as the language of Islam, giving it a formal status as the language of religion, and regulates its spreading within the Iranian national curriculum. The constitution declares in Chapter II: (The Official Language, Script, Calendar, and Flag of the Country) in Article 16 "Since the language of the Qur`an and Islamic texts and teachings is Arabic, ..., it must be taught after elementary level, in all classes of secondary school and in all areas of study."[8] b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 162 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. |
Iran
The
Israel
Arabic was an official language of
Arabic is an
Arabic names are shown on some seals of Arabic majority cities.
It is semi-official and used in ethnically mixed cities including
Pakistan
According to the
The Arabic language is mentioned in the
The National Education Policy 2017 declares in article 3.7.4 that: “Arabic as compulsory part will be integrated in Islamiyat from Middle to Higher Secondary level to enable the students to understand the Holy Quran.“ Furthermore, it specifies in article 3.7.6: “Arabic as elective subject shall be offered properly at Secondary and Higher Secondary level with Arabic literature and grammar in its course to enable the learners to have command in the language.“ This law is also valid for private schools as it defines in article 3.7.12: “The curriculum in Islamiyat, Arabic and Moral Education of public sector will be adopted by the private institutions to make uniformity in the society.“[17]
In 2021, Pakistan's upper house of parliament approved the ‘Compulsory Teaching of the Arabic Language Bill 2020’ which makes the teaching of Arabic mandatory at all primary and secondary schools in the capital, Islamabad.[18] The text of the bill says that Arabic should be taught from the first to the fifth grade and Arabic grammar should be taught from the sixth grade to the eleventh grade.[19][20] The main reasons given are that Arabic would open up more job opportunities for Pakistanis in the Middle East and lead to lower unemployment and increased remittances[18] and that Arabic is the language of the Quran, so making Arabic compulsory in school will help improve the understanding of it.[21]
Philippines
The Arabic language is mentioned in the Philippine constitution of 1986. It specifies that "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis."[11]
Arabic is mainly used by some
South Africa
The Arabic language is mentioned in the Constitution of South Africa. It declares in Chapter 1 (Founding Provisions) Section 6, Languages that "A Pan South African Language Board established by national legislation must (b) promote and ensure respect for – (i) all languages commonly used by communities in South Africa, including ...; and (ii) Arabic, ... for religious purposes in South Africa."[12]
Non-sovereign entities and territories where Arabic is an official or de facto official language
The following is a list of non-sovereign entities and autonomous regions as well as territories where Arabic is an official or de facto official language.
No. | Non-sovereign entity/Territory | Population | Notes | Continent | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Azawad/ Arab Movement of Azawad[22] | 1,300,000 | Co-official language, along with Tuareg | Africa | ||
2 | Galmudug | 1,230,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | ||
3 | Hirshabelle |
1,800,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | ||
4 | Iraqi Kurdistan[23] | 5,300,000 | Co-official language, along with Kurdish | Asia | ||
5 | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant | 4,800,000 | Official language | Asia | ||
6 | Jubaland | 1,000,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | ||
7 | Khatumo |
2,000,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | ||
8 | Puntland | 1,285,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | ||
9 | Rojava (also called Democratic Federation of Northern Syria) | 4,600,000 | Co-official language, along with Kurdish and Syriac | Asia | ||
10 | South West State of Somalia | 2,000,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | ||
11 | Syrian Oppositiona[24] | 3,500,000 | Official language | Asia | ||
– | Total | 28,835,000 | ||||
a. The recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic .
|
History
Umayyad Caliphate
The
During the period of the
Abbasid Caliphate
While the
Fatimid Caliphate
The Arabic language remained the
Al-Andalus
In the history,
Italy and Malta
Siculo-Arabic (or Sicilian Arabic) was a spoken language on the islands of Sicily and neighbouring Malta (at that time Emirate of Sicily (831–1091)) between the end of the ninth century and the end of the twelfth century.
Greece
A form of Arabic was spoken on the
Omani Empire
Arabic was the official language of the Omani Empire (1696–1856). Several Arabic dialects and languages were the lingua francas in the different areas of this empire, like Omani Arabic, Yemeni Arabic, Persian, Balochi and Swahili.
South Sudan
Arabic (alongside English) was an official language in
The Gambia
In 2014, Gambian president Yahya Jammeh announced that The Gambia would drop English as the official language because it is a "colonial relic".[28][29] He replaced Gambia's official language English with Arabic in 2014.[30] However, such change was not enacted.
Israel
The Arabic language (alongside Hebrew) also remained as an official language in the State of Israel for the first 70 years after the proclamation in 1948 until 2018. The Knesset canceled the status of Arabic as an official language by adopting the relevant Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People on 19 July 2018. This Israeli Basic Law states in No. 4 (A) that "The state’s language is Hebrew."[9]
Territories where Arabic was an official or de facto official language and later replaced or repealed
There were several territories (which later became independent states) where Arabic was an official or de facto official language and where Arabic has been replaced by other languages or repealed. The following list specifies territories (which later became independent states) where Arabic was the official language when these territories were parts of the Umayyad Caliphate. During the reign of the fifth Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik, Arabic became the official language of the Umayyad Caliphate.[31][32][33][34] The previous local official languages in the different territories were replaced by the Arabic language.[35]
No. | Current country | Current official language(s) |
Current spoken language(s) |
Historically belonged to |
Historical official language(s) |
Historical spoken language(s) |
Time period |
Continent |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Afghanistan | Pashto, Dari | Pashto, Dari, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Pashto, Dari, Uzbek, Turkmen, Central Asian Arabic | 661–750 | Asia |
2 | Armenia | Armenian | Armenian, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Arabic, Armenian | 661–750 | Asia |
3 | Azerbaijan | Azeri | Azeri, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Arabic, Azeri | 661–750 | Asia |
4 | Cyprus | Greek, Co-official language, along with Turkish | Greek, Turkish, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Siculo-Arabic | 661–750 | Asia |
5 | France[36] | French | French, various others | Narbonne and a part of Septimania belonged to the Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic in the part of France which belonged to the Umayyad Caliphate | Gaulish , Arabic |
719–759 | Europe |
6 | Georgia | Georgian | Georgian | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Arabic, Georgian | 661–750 | Asia |
7 | Greece | Greek | Greek, various others | Emirate of Crete | Arabic | Arabic, Greek, various others | 824–961 | Europe |
8 | Iran | Persian | Persian, various others | Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Buyid dynasty | Arabic | Arabic, Persian | 661–1062 | Asia |
9 | Israel | Hebrew | Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian, various others | Rashidun Caliphate, several other Muslim dynasties | Arabic | Arabic, Hebrew | 636–2018 | Asia |
10 | Sicily[note 2] | Italian | Italian, various others | Emirate of Sicily | Arabic | Siculo-Arabic, Byzantine Greek, Vulgar Latin | 831–1091 | Europe |
11 | Kenya | Swahili, Co-official language, along with English | Swahili, various others | Omani Empire | Arabic | Omani Arabic, Yemeni Arabic, Swahili | 1696–1856 | Africa |
12 | Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyz | Kyrgyz, Uzbek | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Kyrgyz | 651–750 | Asia |
13 | Malta | Maltese, Co-official language, along with English | Maltese, English, various others | Emirate of Sicily | Arabic | Siculo-Arabic, Byzantine Greek, Vulgar Latin | 831–1091 | Europe |
14 | Niger | French | Sokoto Caliphate | Arabic | Classical Arabic, Hausa, Zarma | 1804–1908 | Africa | |
15 | Nigeria | English | English, various others | Sokoto Caliphate | Arabic | Classical Arabic, Hausa, Fula | 1804–1908 | Africa |
16 | Pakistan | Urdu, Co-official language, along with English | Urdu, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Urdu, Central Asian Arabic | 661–750 | Asia |
17 | Portugal | Portuguese | Portuguese, various others | Umayyad Caliphate, Emirate of Córdoba, Caliphate of Córdoba, Taifa of Badajoz, Almoravid dynasty, Almohad Caliphate | Arabic | Mozarabic, Medieval Hebrew |
711–1139 | Europe |
18 | Spain[37] | Spanish | Spanish, various others | Umayyad Caliphate, Emirate of Córdoba, Caliphate of Córdoba, Taifa of Zaragoza, Taifa Kingdom of Seville, Taifa of Córdoba, Almoravid dynasty, Almohad Caliphate, Emirate of Granada | Arabic | Andalusian Arabic, Mozarabic, Medieval Hebrew | 711–1492 | Europe |
19 | South Sudan | English | Juba Arabic, various others | Egypt Eyalet, Sudan |
Arabic | Juba Arabic | 1863–2011 | Africa |
20 | Tajikistan | Tajik | Tajik | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Tajik | 661–750 | Asia |
21 | Tanzania | Arabic in Zanzibar |
Swahili, various others; Omani Arabic in Zanzibar | Omani Empire | Arabic | Swahili, Omani Arabic, Yemeni Arabic | 1696–1856 | Africa |
22 | Turkey | Turkish | Turkish, various others | Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate | Arabic | North Mesopotamian Arabic | 661–1517 | Asia |
23 | Turkmenistan | Turkmen | Turkmen | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Turkmen | 661–750 | Asia |
24 | Uzbekistan | Uzbek, various others | Uzbek | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Uzbek | 661–750 | Asia |
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: ara".
- ISBN 978-1575061092.
Maltese is the chief exception: Classical or Standard Arabic is irrelevant in the Maltese linguistic community and there is no diglossia.
- ^ "Implementation of the Charter in Cyprus". Database for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Public Foundation for European Comparative Minority Research. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- ^ Maronite Community of Cyprus: St Maron Elementary School, 11 December 2013, Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- S2CID 146966189.
- ^ عربی دومین زبان دانشگاه پیام نور شد (in Persian). Radiozamaaneh.com. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ Ethnologue: Ethnologue Languages of the World – Senegal – Languages, Retrieved 31 December 2017.
- ^ Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Iran (Islamic Republic of)`s Constitution of 1979. – Article: 16 Official or national languages, 1979, retrieved 25 July 2018
- ^ a b c "Full text of Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People". The Knesset: Press Releases. State of Israel. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ a b Constitution of Pakistan: Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 – Article: 31 Islamic way of life, 1973, retrieved 13 June 2018
- ^ a b Joselito Guianan Chan; Managing Partner. "1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article XIV, Section 7". Chan Robles & Associates Law Firm. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ a b Constitution of South Africa: South African Government Information: Constitution Constitution of South Africa, 1996 – Chapter 1, Section 6, Languages, 1996, retrieved 19 September 2021
- ^ Mohammad Tahsin Siddiqi (1994), Hindustani-English code-mixing in modern literary texts, University of Wisconsin,
... Hindustani is the lingua franca of both India and Pakistan ...
- ISBN 0716719045,
... By the time of British colonialism, Hindustani was the lingua franca of all of northern India and what is today Pakistan ...
- ISBN 978-0521519311.
General Ayub Khan was the first Pakistani leader to advocate the institution of Arabic language teaching as part of national planning.
- ISBN 978-0521519311.
Ayub`s educational plan emphasized Urdu and English as the primary language of Pakistan, but additionally recommended that Arabic be a secondary language of instruction along with English.
- ^ Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training: National Education Policy 2017, p. 25, retrieved 19 June 2018
- ^ a b Arab News: Senate approves bill making Arabic classes compulsory at Islamabad schools, 1 February 2021, Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Senate of Pakistan: The Islamabad Compulsory Teaching of the Arabic Language, Bill, 2020, 1 February 2021, Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Pakistan Today: Arabic language bill sails through Senate, 1 February 2021, Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Gulf News: Pakistan parliament approves compulsory Arabic classes in Islamabad schools, 2 February 2021, Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "Languages of Mali". Ethnologue.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
- ^ "Kurdistan: Constitution of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region". Retrieved 29 May 2021
- ^ "National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces". Retrieved 29 May 2021
- ISBN 978-1593398378.
- ^ Ochsenwald & Fisher 2004, p. 69
- ^ Hayrettin Yücesoy (2015) “Language of Empire: Politics of Arabic and Persian in the Abbasid World, p. 388.
- ^ Al-Jazeera: "Gambia to drop English as 'colonial relic'" 13 March 2014, Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ Index on Censorship: Gambia’s president wants to ditch English as official language, 28 March 2014, retrieved 12 July 2018
- ^ France 24: "Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh, a dictator and ‘proud’ of it" 11 January 2017, Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ISBN 0791418278.
- ISBN 978-0195046526.
- ISBN 978-1409455998.
- ISBN 0195125584.
- ISBN 978-0313340123.
- ISBN 0791418278.
- ISBN 0791418278.
- Bibliography
- Paris, François (1995). "L Bassin de I'Azawagh : peuplements et civilisations, du néolithique à l'arrivée de l'islam" (PDF). Milieux, sociétés et archéologues (in French). Karthala. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- LCCN 2003041213.
Further reading
- Arab Immigrants in Latin American Politics
- Descendants of Arabs thriving in S. America
- "Arab roots grow deep in Brazil's rich melting pot", The Washington Times