* Defining "speaks French": There are different levels of fluency. Does it mean native speaker, fluent, conversational, or simply able to understand some basic phrases?
* Data collection challenges: It's difficult to get accurate data on language proficiency worldwide. Census data might not include detailed language information.
* Language evolution: The number of French speakers is constantly changing due to migration, education, and language acquisition.
However, we can give you some general information:
* Native speakers: Roughly 290 million people worldwide speak French as their native language.
* Total speakers: Estimates for total French speakers (including those who speak it as a second language) range from 300 million to 400 million.
* Regional variation: French is spoken in many countries, with the highest concentration in France, Canada, and parts of Africa.
To get a better idea of the percentage of people who speak French in a specific region, you would need to look at the demographics of that region.