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how many official languages does switzerland have?

Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.

Official languages

  • German
  • French
  • Italian
  • Romansh

All four are recognised at the federal level, with German, French and Italian having fully equal status in federal administration, while Romansh is used officially when dealing with Romansh-speaking citizens.

Quick context

  • Multilingualism is a core part of Switzerland’s national identity and is protected in law.
  • German is the most widely spoken language nationwide, followed by French, then Italian, with Romansh used by a small minority mainly in the canton of Graubünden.

TL;DR: If you’re wondering “how many official languages does Switzerland have?” — the answer is four: German, French, Italian and Romansh.