List of countries where Arabic is an official language
and its different dialects are spoken by around 422 million speakers in the Arab world as well as in the Arab diaspora making it one of the five most spoken languages in the world. Currently, 22 countries are member states of the Arab League which was founded in Cairo in 1945. Arabic is a language cluster comprising 30 or so modern varieties.
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 or Western Europe.
Cypriot Arabic is an recognized minority language in the EU member state of Cyprus and along with Maltese is one of only two extant European varieties of Arabic, though has its own standard literary form and has no diglossic relationship with Standard Arabic.
Maltese is one of the official languages of the EU.
Arabic is a majority language of the native population in the United Arab Emirates as the majority of the population is composed of expatriates.
Sovereign states where Arabic is an official language
As of 2018, there are 22 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. | 41,701,000 | Co-official language, along with Berber | Yes | - | - | |
| 2. | 1,343,000 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 3. | 10,329,208 | Co-official language, along with French | Observer status | - | - | |
| 4. | 798,000 | Co-official language, along with Comorian and French | Yes | - | - | |
| 5. | 810,179 | Co-official language, along with French | Yes | - | - | |
| 6. | 102,442,939 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 7. | 36,004,552 | Co-official language, along with Kurdish | Yes | - | - | |
| 8. | 6,655,000 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 9. | 2,789,000 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 10. | 4,965,914 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 11. | 6,244,174 | Official language | Yes a | - | - | |
| 12. | 3,359,185 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 13. | 35,250,000 | Co-official language, along with Berber | Yes | - | - | |
| 14. | 4,055,418 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 15. | 2,155,446 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 16. | 30,770,375 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 17. | 10,428,043 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Yes | - | - | |
| 18. | 40,235,000 | Co-official language, along with English | Yes | - | - | |
| 19. | b | 20,956,000 | Official language | Yes c | - | - |
| 20. | 10,982,754 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 21. | 9,346,129 | Official language | Yes | - | - | |
| 22. | 23,833,000 | Official language | Yes d | - | - | |
| Σ 22 | Total | Σ 391,495,000 | Arabic Language International Council | Arab League | - | - |
| a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. | a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. | a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. | a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. | a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. | a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. | a. Libya's seat is taken by the House of Representatives . b. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. c. Syria's seat currently occupied by the Syrian National Coalition, while Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic suspended on 16 November 2011. d. Yemen's seat is taken by the Cabinet of Yemen. |
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. | a | 4,484,000 | Official language in the Palestinian territoriesb | Yes | - | - |
| 2. | 502,585 | Co-official language, along with Spanish | No | - | - | |
| 3. | 4,500,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali and English | No | - | - | |
| 4. | c | 1,303,569 | Co-official language, along with Swahili and English | No | - | - |
| a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. | a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. | a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. | a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. | a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. | a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. | a. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 136 member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. b. The Palestinian territories are occupied by Israel but do not legally belong to the State of Israel according to the Supreme Court of Israel and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. c. A semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. |
Countries where Arabic is a national/working language or a recognized minority language
As of 2016, there are 7 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. | 875,900 | Minority language | Asia | |
| 2. | 6,380,803 | Working language | Africa | |
| 3. | 83,145,546 | Minority language | Asia | |
| 4. | 19,973,000 | National language | Africa | |
| 5. | 22,314,743 | National language | Africa | |
| 6. | 16,209,125 | National language | Africa | |
| 7. | 82,003,882 | Minority language | Asia, Europe | |
| Σ 7 | Total | Σ 230,903,000 |
Cyprus
is one of the two recognized minority languages of Cyprus, since 2008. It is spoken by the Maronite community, which is a minority in Cyprus especially in the cities Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.Cypriot Arabic is taught at the Elementary School of St. Maron, which is located in Anthoupolis southern of Nicosia, Cyprus.
Eritrea
Eritrea no longer has official languages, but now instead has recognised national/working languages. Tigrinya, English and Arabic are the three most well known throughout the country and were the three former official languages. Eritrea is also an observe state for the Arab League due to their close relationship with Arabic and the Arab world.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 became mandatory for pupils in Iran. Arabic courses are mandatory starting from 6th year of schooling until the 11th year.The local dialects of Arabic spoken by Arab minorities in Iran are Khuzestani Arabic and Mesopotamian Arabic, mainly in Khuzestan Province as well as Khorasani Arabic especially in Khorasan Province.
There are several TV channels in Arabic language broadcasting from Iran, namely, Al-Alam, Al-Kawthar TV as well as IFilm. 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.
Mali
Arabic is one of the recognized national languages in Mali. Hassaniya Arabic is spoken by a minority in Mali especially by the Azawagh Arabs nomadic ethnic Arab-ancestry tribes who are settling mainly in the area of Azawagh which is a dry basin covering what is today northwestern Niger, as well as parts of northeastern Mali and southern Algeria.Niger
Arabic is one of the recognized national languages in Niger. Arabic is spoken by a minority in Niger especially by the Diffa 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.Turkey
There is an Arab minority in Turkey who speak Arabic as their native language. Therefore, Arabic is a recognized minority language in Turkey.Historically Arabic was the official language during the time when this region was a part of the Umayyad Caliphate between 661 and 750 and later when it belonged to the Abbasid Caliphate.
The national public broadcaster of Turkey the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation broadcasts TRT Al Arabiya a 24 hours a day TV channel in Arabic language.
The Arab Christian minority has the right to teach Arabic under the Treaty of Lausanne, however they tend to refrain from doing so in order to avoid sectarian tensions as the treaty does not apply to the Muslim majority.
In 2015, the Turkey’s Ministry of Education announced that as of the 2016-17 academic year, Arabic language courses will be offered to students in elementary school starting in second grade. The Arabic courses will be offered as an elective language course like German, French and English which are already being offered to elementary school students for a long time. According to a prepared curriculum, second and third graders will start learning the Arabic language by listening-comprehension and speaking, while introduction to writing will join these skills in fourth grade and after fifth grade students will start learning the language in all its four basic skills.
Countries where Arabic has a special status according to the constitution
As of 2018, there are 4 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 | Other recognized language | Continent | - |
| 1. | 83,145,546 | Persian | Arabic a | Asia | - | |
| 2. | b | 9,149,960 | Hebrew | Arabic c | Asia | - |
| 3. | 218,396,000 | Urdu, English | Arabic d | Asia | - | |
| 4. | 100,981,437 | Filipino, English | Arabic e | Asia | - | |
| Σ 4 | Total | Σ 411,672,943 | - | |||
| 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." | 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." | 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." | 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." | 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." | 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." | 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: 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." b. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 161 member states currently recognize the State of Israel. c. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018. d. The constitution of Pakistan states in Article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..." e. The 1987 Philippine constitution specifies "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." |
Iran
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: 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."Israel
Arabic was an official language of Mandatory Palestine and was retained as an official language when the State of Israel was founded in 1948. In 2018, the Knesset upgraded the status of Hebrew from official to State language of Israel, and gave Arabic a special status in the State by adopting the relevant Basic Law. The states in No. 4 that "The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law." The law declares in No. 4 : "This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect." The law was adopted by the Knesset 62 in favor, 55 against and two abstentions on 19 July 2018.Arabic is an indigenous language in the territory which form nowadays the state of Israel and which is still the lingua franca of Arab citizens of Israel as well as of Arab foreigners. In addition, Arabic is spoken by Arab Jews in Israel who immigrated from different Arab countries to Israel and got the Israeli citizenship according to the Israeli Nationality Law of 1952.
Arabic name is shown on some Arabic majority cities seal.
It is semi-official and used in Jerusalem.
Pakistan
Historically Arabic was the official language during the time when this region was a part of the Umayyad Caliphate between 651 and 750.According to the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 the two languages Urdu as well as Bengali became the national languages in the new founded state Islamic Republic of Pakistan. General Ayub Khan the second President of Pakistan advocated the institution of Arabic language teaching a spart of national planning. "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."
The Arabic language is mentioned in the constitution of Pakistan. It declares in article 31 No. 2 that "The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language..."
There is also an Arab minority in Pakistan. In addition, a remarkable number of Pakistanis are able to speak Arabic as they were living in the rich GCC Countries for working reasons for a very long time. These overseas Pakistanis who are living in countries of the Arab world are also named Arab Pakistanis or Pakistani Arabs.
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.“
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."Arabic is mainly used by some Filipino Muslims in both a liturgical and instructional capacity since the arrival of Islam and establishment of several Sultanates in the present-day state Philippines. Along with Malay, Arabic was the lingua franca of the Malay Archipelago among Muslim traders and the Malay aristocracy in the history. Arabic is taught for free and is promoted in some Islamic centres predominantly in the southernmost parts of Philippines.
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. | , Arab Movement of Azawad | 1,300,000 | Co-official language, along with Tuareg | Africa | - | - |
| 2. | 1,230,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - | |
| 3. | Hirshabelle | 1,800,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - |
| 4. | 5,300,000 | Co-official language, along with Kurdish | Asia | - | - | |
| 5. | 4,800,000 | Official language | Asia | - | - | |
| 6. | 1,000,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - | |
| 7. | Emirate of Arabistan, National Liberation Movement of Ahwaz | 4,711,000 | Official language | Asia | - | - |
| 8. | 2,000,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - | |
| 9. | Northland State | 1,300,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - |
| 10. | 1,285,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - | |
| 11. | 4,600,000 | Co-official language, along with Kurdish and Syriac | Asia | - | - | |
| 12. | South West State of Somalia | 2,000,000 | Co-official language, along with Somali | Africa | - | - |
| 13. | a | 3,500,000 | Official language | Asia | - | - |
| Σ 13 | Total | Σ 34,826,000 | - | - | ||
| a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. | a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. | a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. | a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. | a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. | a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. | a. The Syrian National Coalition is partially recognized as the sole legitimate government of the state Syrian Arab Republic. |
History
Umayyad Caliphate
The Muslim conquests and the following Expansion of Islam led to the expansion of the Arabic language in Northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, the Caucasus, Western Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. Along with the religion of Islam, the Arabic language, Arabic number system and Arab customs spread throughout the entire Arab caliphate. The caliphs of the Arab dynasty established the first schools inside the empire which taught Arabic language and Islamic studies for all pupils in all areas within the caliphate. The result was the creation of the society that was mostly Arabic-speaking because of the assimilation of native inhabitants.During the period of the Umayyad Caliphate, the 5th Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik established Arabic instead of the local languages as the sole official state language of government across the entire caliphate.
Abbasid Caliphate
While the Abbasid Caliphate originally gained power by exploiting the social inequalities against non-Arabs in the Umayyad Empire, during Abbasid rule the empire rapidly was Arabized. As knowledge was shared in the Arabic language throughout the empire, people of different nationalities and religions began gradually to speak Arabic in their everyday lives. Resources from other languages began to be translated into Arabic, and a unique Islamic identity began to form that fused previous cultures with Arab culture, creating a level of civilization and knowledge that was considered a marvel in Europe and the Western world.Fatimid Caliphate
The Arabic language remained the lingua franca of high culture under the Fatimids, Spanish Umayyads in the Iberian Peninsula, and later Muslim dynasties in North Africa and Spain and of the Mamluks in Egypt and Syria-Palestine.Al-Andalus
In the history, Andalusian Arabic was the official language in Spain and Portugal, formerly Al-Andalus for more than 700 years until the fall of the last Islamic state in Iberia at Granada in 1492.Italy and Malta
was a spoken language on the islands of Sicily and neighbouring Malta between the end of the ninth century and the end of the twelfth century.Greece
A form of Arabic was spoken on the Mediterranean island of Crete from the late 820s until the Byzantine reconquest in 961.South Sudan
Arabic was an official language in South Sudan from 1863 until 2011, when the former government canceled Arabic as an official language. Since 2011 English is the sole official language of South Sudan. The Arabic dialect Juba Arabic is still the lingua franca of the people in South Sudan.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". He replaced Gambia’s official language English with Arabic in 2014. However, such change was not enacted.Israel
The Arabic language 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 on 19 July 2018. This Israeli Basic Law states in No. 4 that "The state’s language is Hebrew."Territories where Arabic was an official or de facto official language and later replaced or repealed
There were several territories where Arabic was an official or de facto official language and where it has been replaced by other languages or repealed. The following is a list of territories where Arabic was an official or de facto official language in the history.| No. | Current country | Current official language | Current spoken language | Historically belonged to | Historical official language | Historical spoken language | Time period | Continent |
| 1 | Pashto, Dari | Pashto, Dari, various others | Arabic | Pashto, Dari, Uzbek, Turkmen, Central Asian Arabic | 661-750 | Asia | ||
| 2 | Armenian | Armenian, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Arabic, Armenian | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 3 | Azeri | Azeri, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Arabic, Azeri | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 4 | Greek, Co-official language, along with Turkish | Greek, Turkish, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Siculo-Arabic | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 5 | Georgian | Georgian | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Arabic, Georgian | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 6 | Greek | Greek | Emirate of Crete | Arabic | Arabic, Greek, various others | 824–961 | Europe | |
| 7 | Persian | Persian | Umayyad Caliphate, Emirate of Arabistan | Arabic | Arabic, Persian | 661-750 1440–1925 | Asia | |
| 8 | Hebrew | Arabic, English, Hebrew, Russian, various others | Rashidun Caliphate, several other Muslim dynasties | Arabic | Arabic, Hebrew | 636-2018 | Asia | |
| 9 | Italian | Italian, various others | Emirate of Sicily | Arabic | Siculo-Arabic, Byzantine Greek, Vulgar Latin | 831–1091 | Europe | |
| 10 | Kyrgyz | Kyrgyz, Uzbek | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Kyrgyz | 651-750 | Asia | |
| 11 | Maltese, Co-official language, along with English | Maltese, English, various others | Emirate of Sicily | Arabic | Siculo-Arabic, Byzantine Greek, Vulgar Latin | 831–1091 | Europe | |
| 12 | French | Arabic, Hausa, Zarma, various others | Sokoto Caliphate | Arabic | Classical Arabic, Hausa, Zarma | 1804-1908 | Africa | |
| 13 | English | English | Sokoto Caliphate | Arabic | Classical Arabic, Hausa, Fula | 1804-1908 | Africa | |
| 14 | Urdu, Co-official language, along with English | Urdu, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Urdu, Central Asian Arabic | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 15 | Portuguese | Portuguese, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Andalusian Arabic, Mozarabic, Medieval Hebrew | 711-1139 | Europe | |
| 16 | Spanish | Spanish, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Andalusian Arabic, Mozarabic, Medieval Hebrew | 711-1492 | Europe | |
| 17 | English | Juba Arabic, various others | Egypt Eyalet | Arabic | Juba Arabic | 1863–2011 | Africa | |
| 18 | Tajik | Tajik | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Tajik | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 19 | Turkish | Turkish, various others | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | North Mesopotamian Arabic | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 20 | Turkmen | Turkmen | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Turkmen | 661-750 | Asia | |
| 21 | Uzbek | Uzbek | Umayyad Caliphate | Arabic | Central Asian Arabic, Uzbek | 661-750 | Asia |