How many Spanish-speaking countries are there? Learn about all the Spanish-speaking countries of the world and see a Spanish-speaking countries & capitals map.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Spanish-Speaking Countries & Capitals | List & Locations
Table of Contents
- How Many Spanish-Speaking Countries Are There?
- Spanish-Speaking Countries & Capitals Map
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the capitals of the 21 Spanish speaking countries?
The 21 Spanish speaking countries and their capitals are:
Mexico City, Mexico
Madrid, Spain
San Jose, Costa Rica
San Salvador, El Salvador
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Managua, Nicaragua
Panama City, Panama
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Havana, Cuba
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Buenos Aires, Argentina
La Paz, Bolivia
Santiago, Chile
Bogota, Colombia
Quito, Ecuador
Asuncion, Paraguay
Lima, Peru
Montevideo, Uruguay
Caracas, Venezuela
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
What are the 21 countries that speak Spanish?
Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Equatorial Guinea are the 21 Spanish speaking countries. Although Puerto Rico is not a country (it is a territory of the United States), it has a unique form of Spanish and therefore considered a separate entity.
Table of Contents
- How Many Spanish-Speaking Countries Are There?
- Spanish-Speaking Countries & Capitals Map
- Lesson Summary
When the age of exploration began in the late 15th century, Spain was at the forefront of colonization in the new world. Like many other empires, they sought to expand their influence and claim land in these new regions, which would spread their global reach for trade and settlement. With the creation of these colonies, the Spanish language was transferred to the natives of the new world, thus further spreading the influence of the empire. The Spanish empire is best known for its exploration of the Caribbean and Latin America.
Spanish is one of the most extensively spoken languages in the world today, with 21 Spanish-speaking countries recognizing the language as their official dialect. Spanish is spoken natively by nearly 450 million people, making it the second most spoken language in the world behind Chinese. For reference, English is in third place with 360 million native speakers. Spanish is also a popular second language for many people to learn and is the third most studied language globally behind English and French. A list of Spanish-speaking countries and territories who have made the language their dialect includes:
- Spain
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rico (Territory of United States)
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Equatorial Guinea
There are also four countries who do not speak Spanish as their primary language, but use it often in conversation. Andorra, Belize, Gibraltar, and the United States all make Spanish a popular choice of a secondary language. Spanish lingual influence continues to grow in these countries, as well as those with Spanish as the primary language. This lesson will continue to provide an overview of all Spanish speaking countries and some information about each.
Spanish-Speaking Countries in North America
In North America, the only Spanish-speaking country is Mexico. Mexico was explored by the Spanish during the early-1500s and settled mostly in the early 1700s. The original attempts at settlement in the earliest years of exploration were met with challenge and ultimately failed, but large amounts of land were claimed for the empire, which expanded their global reach nonetheless. The influence of the Spanish empire still dominates the country of Mexico today, with celebrations of Spanish achievements and culture taking place throughout the year. Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is home to a large population of the Spanish-speaking people within the country. There are about 130,000,000 Spanish-speaking residents of Mexico.
Spanish-Speaking Countries in Central America and the Caribbean
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This region is home to 9 of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries or territories. They are Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. It should be noted that Puerto Rico is not a country, but instead an incorporated territory of the United States. It is included on the list of 21 countries because it has a unique version of Spanish that is spoken and has been influenced extensively by the Spanish of the exploration age, just as the other countries in this list have.
The Spanish arrived in the Caribbean and began to colonize the region as early as 1502. Santo Domingo was the first successful Spanish settlement, which is the capital of the Dominican Republic. By 1511, they had extended their reach the Florida peninsula of the United States, using Santo Domingo as a base of operations. By the mid-16th century, Spanish reach had extended to Central America and parts of South America. During their involvement in the Thirty Year War in Europe, the Spanish empire was exploited by other powers in this region and lost control of some of its territories. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821 and established their own capitals. They are:
- San Jose, Costa Rica
- San Salvador, El Salvador
- Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- Managua, Nicaragua
- Panama City, Panama
The Dominican Republic followed Central America shortly afterwards and became independent on November 30, 1821. Leadership of Puerto Rico was transferred to America in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, and it is still a territory of the United States looking to either win its independence or become a state of the nation. The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan. Cuba became controlled by the United States and was granted independence in 1902. Its capital is Havana. Central America and the Caribbean account for 74.5 million people who speak Spanish primarily.
Spanish-Speaking Countries in South America
South America was yet another region influenced by Spanish exploration and colonization in the 15th and 16th centuries. The countries in this region who call Spanish their primary language include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. After establishing major settlements in the Caribbean, the Spanish continued their primary objective of finding wealth and expanding their territory in South America. This region was unique in the many other empires were fighting over the same land, whereas in the Caribbean, Spain was the first to arrive and the land was therefore undisputed. After extensive fighting with the Dutch, French, and English over settlements, Spain was forced to withdraw some of their forces, once again the result of fighting the Thirty Years War in Europe. This is not to say, however, that Spain did not achieve some of their goals in the region. Chile, Peru, and Venezuela were some of earliest successful Spanish settlements. Peru went on to become one of the largest Spanish settlements in South America because of the indigenous peoples who adapted to the new settlers. Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela all became independent after the fall of Gran Colombia, which was a larger region of South America. Many of the South American nations became independent from Spain between 1810 and 1825. The capitals of these countries are:
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- La Paz, Bolivia
- Santiago, Chile
- Bogota, Colombia
- Quito, Ecuador
- Asuncion, Paraguay
- Lima, Peru
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- Caracas, Venezuela
These nine counties make up about 216 million people speaking Spanish as their primary language.
Spanish-Speaking Countries in Europe
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There is only one country in Europe that calls Spanish their primary language, Spain. Spain was the seat of the Spanish empire and celebrates its independence on October 12, despite not winning independence from any other nation. The date is significant because it celebrates the day which Christopher Columbus found the new world. This discovery enabled Spain to begin the age of exploration and seek riches, which at the time was how the empires of the world viewed power. The more wealth that the Spanish could obtain, then the more powerful they would be viewed as. They began to settle regions in the Caribbean before moving onto the main land of the Americas. Also, the Spanish ventured south to Africa to create a limited settlement in that area of the globe. In the early 1800s, much of their empire in the new world was lost when nations began to declare their independence from the weakening power. The capital of Spain is Madrid today, though formerly it was the city of Toledo, about 40 miles south of the current capital. Spain is the third largest Spanish-speaking country in the world behind Mexico and Colombia, with 46 million people speaking Spanish primarily.
Spanish-Speaking Countries in Africa
The only Spanish-speaking country in Africa is Equatorial Guinea. It is home to the smallest population of Spanish speakers, only 1.3 million, and is one of the smallest Spanish-speaking countries by area. Its capital is Malabo. The nation gained its independence from Spain in 1968, but it was occupied by other empires for centuries before. In the 1400s, the Portuguese held control of the territory, but gave it to Spain during the 1700s. Spain was interested in the region specifically for obtaining slaves to work their plantations throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Following an outbreak of yellow fever in the late 1700s, the British assumed ownership, which was returned to Spain in the mid-1800s. Until its independence, Equatorial Guinea continued to be used for the slave trade.
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Spanish-speaking countries are located all over the world! This map will help identify the regions and locations of each of these countries.
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This lesson has explore all Spanish-speaking countries with the language as their primary dialect and discussed Spanish-speaking countries and capitals. Be able to interpret the following information:
- There are 21 Spanish-speaking countries. They are Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Equatorial Guinea.
- Puerto Rico is not a country, but it has its own form of Spanish and is recognized individually.
- Other nations speak Spanish heavily even if it is not their primary language. These include Andorra, Belize, Gibraltar, and the United States.
- Spain began colonizing the New World in the early 1500s, and their influence spread far into Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.
- Even after gaining their independence, many nations have retained their Spanish influence.
- Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world and third most studied language. There are nearly 450 million people who speak Spanish as their first language.
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Video Transcript
Spain Spreads Its Influence
During the 15th and 16th centuries, countries in Europe scrambled to spread their influence around the world. Beginning with the coast of Africa, countries like Portugal and Spain explored new trade routes. In 1492, Spain established itself as one of the most powerful countries in the world. After Columbus's 'discovery' of the New World, Spain planted its roots in the Americas and began colonization. Within just a few short decades, Spain dominated Central and South America, pushing from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific. Although all of Spain's once-vast empire has been liberated, the effects of Spanish colonial rule are still felt today.
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Today, 21 countries around the world spanning four continents speak Spanish as the national language. Let's take a look at these countries and their capitals.
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European Spanish-Speaking Country
The only official Spanish-speaking country in Europe is Spain. At one point, it was ruled by the Romans, and then invaded by the Moors (a Muslim group from Africa), before emerging as a predominantly Catholic monarchy during the late 1400s. One of the most powerful countries in Europe, Spain's influence declined through the late 1500s into the 20th century. Spain's capital city is Madrid, and the country is part of the European Union.
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African Spanish-Speaking Country
Like Europe, Africa is home to only one official Spanish-speaking country. Equatorial Guinea, located on the coast of Western Africa, was originally controlled by the Portuguese before falling under Spanish rule in 1777. Equatorial Guinea gained its independence in 1968. The country's capital is Malabo.
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North America
North America, including Central America and island nations in the Caribbean, is home to 10 Spanish-speaking countries.
- The Dominican Republic takes up two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Located in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic was first established as a Spanish colony by Christopher Columbus in 1492. In 1844, the Dominican Republic established its independence from Haiti. Its capital is Santo Domingo.
- Puerto Rico, an island nation in the Caribbean, was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Puerto Rico was under Spanish control until 1898. That year, Spain was forced to cede control of the island to the United States following the Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico continues to be a U.S. territory to this day. Its capital is located in San Juan.
- The island country of Cuba was colonized by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and part of Spain until 1898, and then transferred to the US following the Spanish-American War. During the late 1950s, communist leader Fidel Castro assumed control, and his regime has inspired other communist revolutions in Central and South America. Cuba's capital is Havana.
- Mexico shares a border with the United States. The region came under Spanish control during the early 1500s after the arrival of Hernan Cortes and Spanish conquistadors. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810 and became a republic in 1824. Its capital is Mexico City.
- Guatemala was originally home to the Mayan people. After nearly 300 years under Spanish rule, Guatemala secured its independence from Spain in 1821. The country had nearly 40 years of guerrilla war beginning in the 1970s. Guatemala's capital is Guatemala City.
- Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. Colonized by the Spanish during the 1520s, Nicaragua became independent in 1821. Nicaragua has a long history of political unrest and violence, including the 1970s Marxist Sandinista movement. Nicaragua's capital is located in Managua.
- Costa Rica, in Central America, secured its independence from Spain in 1821. Translated in English, 'Costa Rica' means 'rich coast'. Two of the country's most lucrative industries include agriculture and tourism. Costa Rica's capital is San José.
- Honduras became an independent country in 1821. Through the 1970s, Honduras was a safe-haven for anti-Sandinista forces fighting in Nicaragua. The capital of Honduras is Tegucigalpa.
- El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. Officially independent from Spain in 1821, El Salvador's capital is San Salvador.
- Panama first became a country in 1903 after the U.S. backed its independence from Colombia. Panama is the home to the Panama Canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its capital is Panama City.
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South America
Like North America, South America is home to numerous Spanish-speaking countries.
- The country of Colombia, located in the northern part of South America, was originally called Gran Colombia. Gran Colombia became an independent country in 1810, then broke into three separate countries in 1830. Its capital is Bogotá.
- The countries of Ecuador and Venezuela were created after the fall of Gran Colombia. The capital of Ecuador is Quito, while the capital of Venezuela is Caracas.
- Also located in the northern half of South America, Bolivia became independent from Spain in 1825. The country is named after revolutionary Simon Bolivar. Its capital city is La Paz (in English, 'the peace').
- Peru, on the western coast of South America, was once the home to the Inca Empire. Conquered in 1533 by Spanish conquistadors, Peru became an independent country in 1821. Its capital is Lima.
- Chile, close to Peru, became an independent country in 1810. Its capital is Santiago.
- Paraguay became a Spanish colony in 1537 and gained its independence from Spain in 1811. Its capital is located in Asunción. Nearby Uruguay gained its independence from Brazil in 1825. The Uruguayan capital is Montevideo.
- Argentina, located in the southernmost portion of South America, was first established as a Spanish colony in the 1500s. It secured its independence in 1816. Argentina's capital is Buenos Aires.
Lesson Summary
Spanish expansion during the 15th and 16th centuries left a lasting impact on countries around the world. In total, 21 countries spanning four continents recognize Spanish as its official language. Spain (whose capital is Madrid) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Europe, while Equatorial Guinea (whose capital is Malabo) is the only one in Africa.
North America is the home to 10 Spanish-speaking countries and capitals:
| Capital | Country |
|---|---|
| Santo Domingo | Dominican Republic |
| San Juan | Puerto Rico |
| Havana | Cuba |
| Mexico City | Mexico |
| Guatemala City | Guatemala |
| Managua | Nicaragua |
| San José | Costa Rica |
| Tegucigalpa | Honduras |
| San Salvador | El Salvador |
| Panama City | Panama |
South America is the home to nine Spanish-speaking countries:
| Capital | Country |
|---|---|
| Bogotá | Colombia |
| Caracas | Venezuela |
| Quito | Ecuador |
| La Paz | Bolivia |
| Lima | Peru |
| Santiago | Chile |
| Asunción | Paraguay |
| Montevideo | Uruguay |
| Buenos Aires | Argentina |
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Spanish-Speaking Countries & Capitals | List & Locations
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