More than 6000 languages are being spoken around the world, but only less than 100 languages could find their way into being known globally and less than 20 of them are widely being practiced by non-native speakers of the language.

French is a very popular language with about 300 million speakers around the globe. French is the official language of 29 countries and 12 territories, in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and even Oceania. French was way more popular in the past few centuries before the vast British colonialism. But with more than 200 million people using French in their daily life, some scientists predict that probably in the next 4 decades, French may become the most popular language in the world.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to the 10 largest Francophone cities in the world.

1- Paris, France (12.2 million)

Paris, the capital of France is the largest Francophone city in the world with more than 12.2 million people calling it their home. Paris is known as the city of love and has been the capital of literature and art in Europe since the middle ages. Paris is the most visited city in the world but the number of tourists dropped by around 10% since the bombings in 2015. This city is known for its worldwide famous historical landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Being a French-speaking city has added to Paris’s charm.

Find the best hotel deals in Paris here.

2- Kinshasa, DRC (9.0 million)

Kinshasa is the capital and the largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a population of more than 9 million. French is widely spoken in Kinshasa in daily life, newspapers, educational institutions, and even on traffic signs. The number of French speakers has TRIPLED since 1945 largely since most former French and Belgian colonies kept French as their language of government, education and science after decolonization.

Kinshasa one of the largest equatorial cities in this world. It is situated beside the Congo river and very close to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.

Find the best hotel deals in Kinshasa here.

3- Abidjan, Ivory Coast (5.2 million)

Abidjan is the capital of the Ivory Coast, a country in West Africa. This city is modern and well organized. In fact, Abidjan is one of the most developed cities in Africa. This city constantly reminds people of economical cities in North America and Europe.

With its 5.2 million population, Abidjan is among the most populous French-speaking cities in Africa. French is the official language in Côte d’Ivoire and Abidjan is recognized as one of the few areas in Africa where French is truly a native tongue (colloquial Abidjan French).

Find the best hotel deals in Abidjan here.

4- Montreal, Canada (3.8 million)

Montreal is the largest city of Canada’s only French-speaking province, Quebec, as well as being Canada’s second-largest city with more than 3.8 million people calling Montreal home. Montreal is one of the oldest cities in North America and it’s so European you won’t believe you’re in North America. Montreal is constantly among the most visited cities in the world and is famous because of its architecture, art, fashion, and welcoming people.

With over 59% of the population being able to speak both English and French, Montreal is the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the developed world, after Paris and the fourth-largest french speaking city in the world.

Find the best hotel deals in Montreal here.

5- Port-au-Prince, Haiti (2.5 million)

Port-au-Prince is the capital of Haiti, an island country in the Caribbean. This city is home to about half of the country’s population and it’s also one of the poorest cities in the Americas, suffering from several natural and economic incidents, the latest one being an earthquake in 2010, which affected the city’s tourism business.

French has become the language of education with most Haitian schools teach in French. The French language is also present in broadcast media and in the newspapers.

Find the best hotel deals in Port-au-Prince here.

6- Dakar, Senegal (2.5 million)

Being famous as ‘Africa’s fashion capital’, Dakar, is the capital and the largest city in Senegal. This city is a melting pot of different races, backgrounds, and cultures. The culture in Dakar is a mixture of European and Islamic. Dakar is also home to several international companies and banks. It was also the endpoint of Dakar rally up until 2008.

The French language is the official language of Senegal and its capital, Dakar.

Find the best hotel deals in Dakar here.

7- Douala, Cameroon (2.4 million)

Douala is the largest city in Cameroon. This city is known for its foreign investors and those in seek of a calm place to live in. French is the official language in Douala, however, English is widely spoken around the city as well.

In 2014, 63.7% of Douala inhabitants of over 15 years knew how to read and write French, while 76.4% knew how to speak and understand French.

Find the best hotel deals in Douala here.

8- Yaounde, Cameroon (2.4 million)

Yaounde is the capital and second-largest city of Cameroon. Because of having countless hills and being high altitude, Yaounde has one of the best climates in West Africa. Both French and English are official languages of Yaounde, but French is still dominant.

Around 39.9% of the population is considered to be able to speak French.

Find the best hotel deals in Yaounde here.

9- Lyon, France (2.1 million)

Lyon in France is famous for being home to Interpol’s headquarters. This city also has the status of a World Heritage site. Lyon is also known for its beautiful historical and architectural sites.

Find the best hotel deals in Lyon here.

10- Lubumbashi, DRC (1.8 million)

Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Zambian border. This city is famous for its copper mining industry. The city is considered to be the mining capital of the country, with many large mining companies making it their hub.

Lubumbashi is the tenth-largest Francophone city in the world.

Find the best hotel deals in Lubumbashi here.