Member states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie



This is a list of the member states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. These governments belong to an international organisation representing countries and regions where French is the first ("mother") or customary language, where a significant proportion of the population are francophones (French speakers) or where there is a notable affiliation with French culture.

Observer states
Note:

Other candidates
Some countries could also potentially join the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie on the basis of being part of the French colonial empire, including Algeria,  Syria, Pondicherry and Chandannagar regions of India. In 2016, Saudi Arabia applied to join the organisation despite having no historical colonial ties with France. However, the Saudis withdrew their bid in October 2018 due to pressure over their human rights record. In 2021, German state of Saarland applied to join the organisation as observer because it was once a French protectorate from 1947 to 1956 &mdash; two years after dissolution of Nazi Germany in 1945. In 2022, Brazil applied to join the organisation as observer because neighbouring with the French Guiana at the north and west &mdash; have historical site named Fort Coligny in Rio de Janeiro &mdash; built by French naval officer Nicolas Durand de Villegaignon in 1555.