How many people speak fluent French?

It's impossible to give an exact number for how many people speak fluent French. Here's why:

* Defining "fluent" is subjective: What constitutes fluency? Is it being able to hold a conversation, read literature, or something else entirely?

* Data collection is difficult: There are many different surveys and estimates, but none are universally accepted as completely accurate.

* French is spoken in many countries: It's an official language in 29 countries, and people have different levels of proficiency across those regions.

Here are some general estimates:

* Native speakers: Around 250-300 million people worldwide have French as their native language.

* Total speakers: Including non-native speakers, estimates range from 300 million to 700 million.

However, these numbers should be considered approximate.