Middle East

If there is one region where the number of people speaking English may surprise you, it's the Middle East. For the most part, British colonization was limited and didn't arrive until the 18th Century. In comparison with other areas, this was very late. Perhaps because of the Ottoman Empire, Britain observed "a complex mix of respect, awe and fear" for the Islamic world. It is true that most countries have come to speak English as a direct influence of the centuries-long settlement of British colonizers. This isn't the case for the Middle East, as Arabic is still the primary language within the region. Nonetheless, you'd be surprised how easy it is to get by in many Middle Eastern countries with English.

9. Israel

While it's certainly a complex region for many reasons, Israel also has so much to offer in terms of history, gastronomy, and landscapes. The Holy Land was previously occupied by the British, and English was one of the country's three official languages. The other two were -- and continue to be -- Hebrew and Arabic. However, when Israel gained independence from Britain, English was crossed off the list. Nonetheless, the language has persisted throughout the years. Most everyone you meet in Israel, including the Palestinian territories, will likely speak English. In school, both Jewish and Arabic children are taught each other's languages for several years. In addition, English is taught as a foreign language and is held in high regard; the idiom is considered a gateway to professional success. No matter where you roam within the country, you'll get by incredibly well, as even signage is often in English and either Hebrew or Arabic.

10. United Arab Emirates

Like most countries in the Middle East, the UAE's official language is Arabic. This relatively tiny, affluent nation is bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman. Home to over 10 million people, a massive 84 percent of its population is comprised of expatriates. As such, many languages are spoken throughout the country, such as Malay, Farsi, Hindi, and English. Perhaps due to its geographic location along the Persian Gulf, the UAE was a British colony until 1971. While Abu Dhabi is the nation's capital, and worth a visit just to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Dubai is the country's largest city. If you're headed there, you may be surprised by its diversity and that English is spoken everywhere -- much more than Arabic.

So many countries use English today in the tourism and business sectors, making it much easier to travel as a monolinguist if this is your native tongue. As we've seen from the above 10 surprising places around the world that speak English, the presence of certain languages has multiple origins. British colonization is historically one of the main reasons for English-speaking populations, but that doesn't paint the whole story. Many countries have adopted this language over the years -- whether in school, on the street, or in the meeting room -- and have made it their own. Fortunately for you, successfully communicating while traveling the world is only going to get easier in the coming years.