Page "Organisation internationale de la Francophonie" Paragraph 1

Formally known as the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie ( OIF ) or the International Organization of the Francophonie, the organization comprises 56 member states and governments, 3 associate members, and 19 observers.

The term francophonie ( with a lower case ' f ') also refers to the global community of French-speaking peoples, comprising a network of private and public organizations promoting special ties among all Francophones.

In a majority of member states, French is not the predominant native language.

The prerequisite for admission to the Francophonie is not the degree of French usage in the member countries, but a prevalent presence of French culture and language in the member country's identity, usually stemming from France's colonial ambitions with other nations in its history.