Did you know there are 26 English speaking non extradition countries in the world? To say a country is non extradition means that it holds no extradition treaty with the United States.
What is an extradition treaty? It’s the agreement that allows one country to transfer a suspected or convicted criminal back to their home country for trial. In other words, many people who are in trouble with the law choose to flee to their non extradition countries to hide. No extradition meaning what countries do not extradite back to the US where they’re in trouble.
But it’s a lot more difficult to hide in a country that doesn’t speak your language. Finding and hiring an English translator is no piece of cake in some countries, and you won’t get very far without communicating with at least a few of the locals.
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But, believe it or not, there are a few non extradition countries that do have English speakers, in fact English is an official language in some. We helped find those countries for you, and ranked them on a scale of least to most English speakers.
Though there are no South American countries without extradition and no non extradition countries in the UK, Africa and the Middle East hold plenty of them. There are also no non extradition countries in the Caribbean, but a few are peppered throughout the South Pacific.
First, we found out what countries have no extradition treaties with the United States. Then we went to the World Factbook for information about which countries speak English. In this list, each country is listed along with their various official and unofficial languages.
Countries that held English as an official language received 5 points, while countries with English as a second language got 4 points. Three points were awarded to countries where English is taught in schools, countries where government and business officials speak English received a 2, and countries where English speakers composed less than 5% of the population got 1 point (there were only two of those countries and they’re not counted as part of the list, but listed at the very end of the article).
However, don’t forget to read up a little on the local language(s) as well before traveling to these countries. Even though English is an official language in over half of the countries with no extradition laws, that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone speaks it. Some of them have 3 to 4 official languages, and even more indigenous languages take up a smaller percentage.
So keep in mind that just because a country has 5 points doesn’t mean everyone in it is well versed in the English language. That’s actually a long shot. Also, since the polls in the World Factbook were calculated through the census, there are a few in some countries who refused to answer at all. All the disclaimers are described in the list.
You could also arm yourself with the phrases you’ll need to know the most in the local language(s) such as “Where’s the nearest restroom?” and, if you enjoy typical American food… “I’d like to order a hamburger and fries.” You should be able to handle it from there. They also say the best way to learn a language is to be immersed in its culture, so this might be a great opportunity for you. Might as well learn a few things while you’re running from the law.
And speaking of, you might also be interested in our list of 11 easiest countries to disappear in.
So, which are the English Speaking Non Extradition Countries in the World? Here are 26. Best of luck escaping prison!
26. Nepal
3 points
Most government and business officials in Nepal speak English, so look for the important ones if you need to communicate with the locals.
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25. Maldives
3 points
This South Asian Island country has lots of English speaking government officials as well.
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24. Ethiopia
3 points
English is a major foreign language taught in most Ethiopian schools, so look for the youngsters if you need directions.
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23. Kuwait
4 points
English is widely spoken in this middle eastern country, though it’s not an official language. It looks like they have cool fireworks too.
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22. Bahrain
4 points
Another island country, Bahrain maintains English as its second language.
Copyright: eugenesergeev / 123RF Stock Photo
21. Libya
4 points
English is widely understood in the major cities of Libya, so stay away from the rural areas.
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20. Marshall Islands
4 points
This small series of tiny islands near Australia is beautiful, and English is their second language.
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19. Qatar
4 points
Make sure you at least know how to properly pronounce “Qatar” before traveling here, although English is its second language.
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18. Vietnam
4 points
English is increasingly favored as a second language here, so maybe before long, it will become an official language.
Copyright: limsoonchiong / 123RF Stock Photo
17. Burundi
5 points
As the first country that holds English as an official language on our list of 26 English speaking non extradition countries in the world, Burundi is found near central Africa.
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16. Cameroon
5 points
Also a part of Africa, Cameroon partly borders the Gulf of Guinea.
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15. Eritrea
5 points
Africa is apparently low on extradition treaties but well stocked with English speakers, because that’s where this coastal country is as well.
Pixabay / Public Domain
14. Uganda
5 points
English is not only a national language here, but it’s also used in courts of law and by most newspapers and broadcasts.
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13. United Arab Emirates
5 points
Grab yourself a burka and it won’t be hard to hide in a country like this. And you’ll even be able to communicate in English to most people.
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12. Vanuatu
5 points
Soak up some rays in this island local, while not having to go through the hassle of learning the local language.
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11. Somalia
5 points
If you like the dry desert, and you only speak English, this is the perfect place to be.
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10. Sudan
5 points
The number 10 on our list of English speaking non extradition countries in the world is Sudan. Did you know this country has pyramids too? It’ll take a hike across the hot desert to see them, but they might be worth the look.
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9. Syria
5 points
It might be good to do a little volunteer work while hunkering down in Syria, much of which is destroyed by the war.
Pixabay/Public Domain
8. Rwanda
5 points
The mountainous region of Rwanda, which takes the 8th place on our list of 26 English speaking non extradition countries in the world, contains a few volcanoes, so watch out.
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7. Samoa
5 points
Unfortunately, they probably don’t sell your favorite girl scout cookie here, but at least some of them speak English.
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6. Oman
5 points
This coastal country also boarded by Saudi Arabia has some beautiful sites, and some English speakers too.
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5. Micronesia
5 points
This country’s name is very fitting. It’s a series of tiny micro islands.
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4. Madagascar
5 points
Keep an eye out for all the creatures in the Madagascar movies while you’re there.
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3. Laos
5 points
Vietnam and Laos both made this list, and both border one another. So you can hop from country to country if you get bored.
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2. Lebanon
5 points
You’ll find the biblical and impressive cedars of Lebanon in this country, as well as some English speaking citizens.
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1. Indonesia
5 points
This island country is the last on our list of 26 English speaking non extradition countries in the world. The two non extradition countries that received 1 point, where English is spoken by less than 5%, are Nambia and Sao Tome & Principe. Thanks for reading!
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