Cantonese is primarily spoken in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi, as well as in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

. It is the dominant Chinese dialect in these areas, with Guangdong being the most populous province in China, which contributes to Cantonese being one of the top 20 most spoken languages globally

. Beyond China, Cantonese is widely spoken among overseas Chinese communities around the world. Significant Cantonese-speaking populations exist in Southeast Asia, especially in countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Thailand, where it often serves as a lingua franca among Chinese ethnic groups

. In Cambodia and Vietnam, Cantonese is commonly used in business and community interactions, and many Chinese language schools teach Cantonese in these regions

. In North America, Cantonese has a strong presence in Chinese communities, particularly in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., it historically dominated in Chinatowns of San Francisco, Oakland, and parts of Southern California, although Mandarin has become more prevalent recently

. In Canada, Cantonese is the most common Chinese variety spoken among Chinese Canadians, especially in the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver, with a large portion of speakers having roots in Hong Kong and Guangdong

. In Europe, Cantonese is spoken by Chinese communities in the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal. The UK has about 300,000 Cantonese speakers, largely due to immigration from Hong Kong and former British colonies in Southeast Asia

. In France, Cantonese is prevalent among Chinese immigrants from former French Indochina, and in Portugal, Cantonese is spoken by ethnic Chinese originating from Macau

. In summary, Cantonese is spoken in:

• Southern China: Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau
• Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand
• North America: United States (especially California), Canada (Toronto, Vancouver)
• Europe: United Kingdom, France, Portugal

It is also widely spoken among overseas Chinese communities globally