If you want to talk about travel, geography, culture, or global English, it helps to know English-speaking countries and their capitals. English is an official language in more than 50 countries and is widely spoken in dozens more. This guide gives you a clear, complete overview: official English-speaking nations, capitals, regional notes, pronunciation help, and example sentences.
Even a yak can sound worldly when it knows its capitals.
What Counts as an English-Speaking Country?
In this guide, we include countries where:
- English is an official language, OR
- English is the main national language, OR
- English is a widely used second language for government, education, and business.
This list reflects real usage, not just technical legal status.
Major English-Speaking Countries (Primary Language)
These are countries where English is the main national language.
| Country | Capital | Notes |
| United States | Washington, D.C. | Most native English speakers in the world. |
| United Kingdom | London | Includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. |
| Canada | Ottawa | English & French are official; English dominates. |
| Australia | Canberra | English with a unique accent and slang. |
| New Zealand | Wellington | English + Māori as official. |
| Ireland | Dublin | English widely used; Irish is also official. |
Caribbean English-Speaking Countries
Many Caribbean nations use English as an official language.
| Country | Capital |
| Jamaica | Kingston |
| Bahamas | Nassau |
| Barbados | Bridgetown |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Port of Spain |
| Saint Lucia | Castries |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Kingstown |
| Grenada | St. George’s |
| Antigua and Barbuda | St. John’s |
| Dominica | Roseau |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Basseterre |
Regional notes:
Caribbean English has unique rhythms and vocabulary. Accents vary from island to island.
African English-Speaking Countries
Africa has the largest number of English-speaking countries. English is often used in government, education, business, and international communication.
| Country | Capital |
| Nigeria | Abuja |
| South Africa | Pretoria (executive) |
| Kenya | Nairobi |
| Uganda | Kampala |
| Ghana | Accra |
| Tanzania | Dodoma |
| Zambia | Lusaka |
| Zimbabwe | Harare |
| Malawi | Lilongwe |
| Botswana | Gaborone |
| Namibia | Windhoek |
| Sierra Leone | Freetown |
| Liberia | Monrovia |
| Rwanda | Kigali |
| Lesotho | Maseru |
| Eswatini | Mbabane |
| Seychelles | Victoria |
| Mauritius | Port Louis |
Notes:
- South Africa has 11 official languages; English is widely used but not the most spoken at home.
- Nigeria has the largest English-speaking population in Africa.
Asian English-Speaking Countries
Several Asian countries use English as an official or major second language.
| Country/Territory | Capital | Notes |
| India | New Delhi | English + Hindi + many regional languages. |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | English used in government and education. |
| Philippines | Manila | One of the world’s largest English-speaking populations. |
| Singapore | Singapore | English is the primary working language. |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | English widely used in business and education. |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | English important in higher education. |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | English widely taught. |
Oceania / Pacific English-Speaking Countries
| Country | Capital |
| Fiji | Suva |
| Papua New Guinea | Port Moresby |
| Solomon Islands | Honiara |
| Vanuatu | Port Vila |
| Samoa | Apia |
| Tonga | Nukuʻalofa |
| Kiribati | South Tarawa |
| Micronesia | Palikir |
| Palau | Ngerulmud |
| Marshall Islands | Majuro |
Notes:
Many of these nations use English alongside indigenous languages and sometimes French.
European Countries Where English Is Official or Widely Used
Besides the UK and Ireland:
| Country/District | Capital | Notes |
| Malta | Valletta | English and Maltese are official. |
| Gibraltar (UK territory) | Gibraltar | English widely used. |
Countries Where English Is Not Official but Very Common
Huge populations speak English daily even if it’s not the official language.
| Country | Capital | Notes |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | High English proficiency. |
| Sweden | Stockholm | Extremely high English level. |
| Denmark | Copenhagen | Widely used. |
| Norway | Oslo | Very high proficiency. |
| Finland | Helsinki | Very strong English skills. |
| Germany | Berlin | Common in business and youth culture. |
| Israel | Jerusalem | English widely used. |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi | English dominates daily life. |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | English widely used in business. |
These are NOT “English-speaking countries” officially, but learners often want to know where English works well.
Pronunciation Tips for Country and Capital Names
Common Issues
- Words ending in -land → say “luhnd,” not “land”:
- England → ING-gluhnd
- Ireland → EYE-er-luhnd
- England → ING-gluhnd
- Countries with silent letters:
- “United Kingdom” → you-NY-tid KING-dum
- “Tonge” or “Gaborone” sometimes mispronounced
- “United Kingdom” → you-NY-tid KING-dum
Difficult Capitals
- Abu Dhabi → ah-boo DAH-bee
- Port Louis (Mauritius) → port LOO-ee
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte → complex; locals often shorten to “Kotte”
Common Sentences for Talking About Countries and Capitals
Here are useful patterns:
Asking about origin:
- “Where are you from?”
- “I’m from Kenya.”
- “The capital of Kenya is Nairobi.”
Talking about travel:
- “I want to visit New Zealand. Wellington looks beautiful.”
- “Have you ever been to Ottawa?”
Speaking about geography:
- “Can you name three English-speaking countries in Africa?”
- “Pretoria is one of South Africa’s capitals.”
In conversation:
- “English is widely used in Singapore.”
- “Jamaica’s capital is Kingston.”
Mini Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Capital
- Ireland → ________
- Ghana → ________
- Australia → ________
- Jamaica → ________
- Fiji → ________
Exercise 2: True or False
- English is an official language in India.
- Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
- Amsterdam is an official English-speaking capital.
- Pretoria is a capital of South Africa.
- Manila is in the Philippines.
Exercise 3: Use in Sentences
Make your own sentences:
- “I’m from ________.”
- “The capital of ________ is ________.”
- “English is widely spoken in ________.”
Yak’s Final Chewables
Learning English-speaking countries and their capitals helps you talk about travel, culture, origins, politics, and global society. You don’t need to memorize all 50+ at once—start with the major countries, then add regions like Africa or the Caribbean. The more you see the names in real contexts (movies, news, TikTok captions), the easier they stick.
Even a yak dreams of visiting Wellington, Kingston, and Nairobi someday.