International Francophone Day: 20 March 2019

International Francophone Day (Journée internationale de la Francophonie) occurs on 20 March annually to celebrate the French language and culture. Established in 1988, the date marks the signing of the Niamey Convention in Niger on 20 March 1970.

It is observed within the International Organization of La Francophonie’s 88 countries (61 members and 27 observers). The IOF’s head office is in Paris.

There are over 369 million French speakers around the world, with more on the continent of Africa (55%) than in Europe. French is the official language in 32 countries.

French is the 5th most widely spoken language in the world, and 60% of French speakers are under 30 years old. There are about 900,000 French teachers worldwide, with 125 million people studying the French language.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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