Where are Dutch, Italian, Russian and Swahili spoken?
Quick answer: Dutch is official in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname; Italian in Italy, Switzerland, San Marino and Vatican City; Russian in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan; and Swahili in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
Dutch
Spoken by about 25 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and northern Belgium (Flanders), and in Suriname in South America.
Italian
About 65 million speakers; official in Italy, San Marino, Vatican City and parts of Switzerland.
Russian
The most spoken native language in Europe, with about 150 million native speakers, and widely used across Central Asia.
Swahili
East Africa’s shared language, spoken by up to 200 million people, mostly as a second language, and an official language of the African Union.
Where each language is official
Countries where these languages have official status:
| Language | Countries |
|---|---|
| Dutch | Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname |
| Italian | Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City |
| Russian | Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan |
| Swahili | Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda |
Facts about each language
Dutch is also spoken on Caribbean islands such as Aruba and Curaçao, and Afrikaans in South Africa developed from it. Italian is one of four national languages of Switzerland. Russian is the most widely spoken Slavic language and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Swahili is a Bantu language with many words borrowed from Arabic, such as kitabu for book.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swahili an official language of the African Union?
Yes, it was adopted as an official AU language in 2022.
Where is Dutch spoken outside Europe?
Suriname, and Caribbean islands such as Aruba and Curaçao.
Is Swahili related to Arabic?
No, but it borrowed many words from Arabic through centuries of trade.
Where is Italian an official language?
Italy, Switzerland, San Marino and Vatican City.
What does Swahili mean?
It comes from the Arabic word for coasts.
Where does standard Italian come from?
The Tuscan dialect of Florence.