Spanish Speaking Countries

Spanish, with its rich history dating back to the 9th century in the Iberian Peninsula, now resonates globally, reaching far beyond its origins. As a Romance language, it is derived from Latin with significant influence from Ancient Greek, and is noted for its vast contribution in various fields of academia, ranging from humanities and social sciences, to media and internet platforms. The language's expansiveness and global prevalence is unmistakably significant, with the United Nations, European Union, Organization of American States, Union of South American Nations, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, African Union among the international organizations recognizing Spanish as an official language. 

Key findings from the data include:

• Spanish is the official language in a total of 20 countries, notably in the Americas and in Spain where it is the de facto or de jure language. Examples include Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and Cuba, among others.
• Furthermore, Spanish has 'significant' status in some regions which do not formally acknowledge it as an official language but have a considerable Spanish-speaking population, such as the United States, Gibraltar, Belize, and Andorra.
• Interestingly, one African nation, Equatorial Guinea, grants Spanish de jure status, showcasing the global reach of the language.
• Interestingly, while some nations where Spanish is spoken widely, like Mexico and Argentina, have a de facto status - meaning it is not necessarily mandated by law but is indeed prevalent - other countries have given it de jure status with official laws confirming its usage.
• While the global status of Spanish is dominant, Mexico remains the country with the largest population of native Spanish speakers.