LIST OF LANGUAGES BY NUMBER OF NATIVE SPEAKERS


This is a 'list of languages', ordered by the 'number of native-language speakers', with some data for second-language use. Languages are listed for secondary locations only when spoken by more than 1% of the population.
Since the definition of a single language is to some extent arbitrary, some mutually intelligible idioms with separate national standards or self identification have been listed separately, depending on conventional use, for example Scandinavian, Hindustani, and Malay.
The relevant estimate for the number of native speakers for the purposes of this list is that of SIL Ethnologue. Other estimates may vary, and the numbers should not be taken as more than indicating the rough order of magnitude of a linguistic community.
Current distribution of Human Language Families


Contents
Top 20
30–60 million native speakers
10–30 million native speakers
3–10 million native speakers
1–3 million native speakers
100,000 to 1 million speakers
10,000 - 100,000 speakers
Fewer than 10,000
Macrolanguages
References
See also
External links

Top 20


Language FamilyEthnologue (2005 estimate)[1]Encarta estimate Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People Other estimatesRanking by Ethnologue estimate
'Mandarin' Sino-Tibetan, Chinese 873 million -- 873 million native, 178 million second language = 1051 million total 1
'Spanish' Indo-European, Italic, Romance 322 million 322 million Encarta also says 322 to 358 million[2], 400 million native, 100 million second language = 500 million [3][4] 2
'English' Indo-European, Germanic, West 309 million 341 million 380 million native, 720 million second language = 1100 million total[5] 3
'Arabic' Afro-Asiatic, Semitic 206 million 422 million Total population of Arab countries: 323 million (CIA 2006 est). 4
'Hindi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 181 million (Khariboli dialect) 366 million 948 million total with significant knowledge of the language[6] 5
'Portuguese' Indo-European, Italic, Romance 177.5 million 176 million 203 million native (2004 CIA), 20+ million second language = 223 million total 6
'Bengali' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 171 million 207 million 196 million native (2004 CIA) (includes 14 million Chittagonian and 10.3 million Sylheti). 7
'Russian' Indo-European, Slavic, East 145 million 167 million 145 million native (2004 CIA), 110 million second language, = 255 million total (2000 WCD) 8
'Japanese' Japanese-Ryukyuan 122 million 125 million 128 million native, 2 million second language, = 130 million total 9
'German' Indo-European, Germanic, West 95.4 million 100.1 million 101 million native (95 million Standard German [2004 CIA], 5 million Swiss German), 60 million second language in EU Europeans and Languages + 5 - 20 million worldwide. 101 million native, ~70 million second language, ~170 million total 10
'Javanese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi 75.5 million 75.6 million 70-75 million 11
'Wu' Sino-Tibetan, Chinese 77.2 million-- 77 million native --
'Telugu' Dravidian, South Central 69.7 million 69.7 million 76 million native, 10 million second language, = 86 million total (2001) 12
'Marathi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 68 million 68 million 68 million native, 3 million second language, = 71 million total 13
'Vietnamese' Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Vietic 67.4 million 68 million 70 million native, perhaps up to 16 million second language, = ~ 86 million total 14
'Korean' Language isolate 67 million 78 million 71 million 15
'Tamil' Dravidian, Southern 66 million 66 million 62 million native, 10 million second language, = 72 million total 16
'French' Indo-European, Italic, Romance 64.8 million 78 million
115 million 'real speakers' (includes some second language speakers) ,[7] 250 million second language (worldwide including Africa and North Africa) = 365 million total and up to 500 million total with significant knowledge of the language[8] 		17
'Italian' Indo-European, Italic, Romance 61.5 million 62 million 61 million native 18
'Punjabi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Western Punjabi: 60.8 million
Eastern Punjabi: 28 million 		57 million 61–62 million (2000 WCD) (taken together with Eastern Punjabi (28 million) and Siraiki (14 million): 104 million total) 19
'UrduIndo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 60.5 million 60.3 million 61 million native, 43 million second language, = 104 million total 20

30–60 million native speakers


Language FamilyEthnologue (2005 estimate)[9]Encarta estimate Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People Other estimatesRanking by Ethnologue estimate
'Cantonese' Sino-Tibetan, Chinese 54.8 million -- 66 million native, perhaps up to about 100 million total 22
'Turkish ' Altaic, Turkic, Oghuz 50.6 million 61 million 74million (2006 estimate)[10] + 15 million second language = 89 million 23
' Min' Sino-Tibetan, Chinese 46.2 million -- Southern Min: 49m, Northern Min 10.43m 24
'Gujarati' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 46.1 million 46.1 million -- 25
'Maithili' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 45 million (included in "Hindi")
'Polish' Indo-European, Slavic, West 42.7 million 52 million -- 26
'Ukrainian' Indo-European, Slavic, East 39.4 million 47 million -- 27
'Persian' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian 39.4m[11] 31.3 million ca. 61 million;[12] sometimes taken to include all of Southwestern Iranian (Luri, Tati, and other); ca. 50 million second language, ca. 110 million total 28
'Malayalam' Dravidian, Southern 35.8 million 35.7 million 38 million native, 10 million second language = 48 million 29
'Kannada' Dravidian, Southern 35.4 million 35.4 million 55 million native, 9 million second language, = 64 million total 30
'Azerbaijani' Altaic, Turkic, Oghuz Iranian Azerbaijan: 24 million
Republic of Azerbaijan: 7 million 		31.4 million 25–35 million native, including Qashqai (data for Iran uncertain); 8 million second language (outside Iran) 31
'Oriya' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 31.7 million 32.3 million -- 32
'Hakka' Sino-Tibetan, Chinese 29.9 million -- 34 million 33
'Bhojpuri' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan 26 million (included in "Hindi") 126 million total
'Burmese' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese 22 million (1996) 32.3 million (2006) 32 million native, 10 million second language, = 42 million total 34
'Thai' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai 20.05 million (1996) 46.1 million (2006) ~31 million native (1983 SIL, 1990 Diller, 2000 WCD) (dated data), = ~60 million first & second language (2001 A. Diller). Includes Southern Thai, Northern Thai/Western Lao, but not Shan, Isan, or Lao. 35

10–30 million native speakers


Language FamilyOfficial status and where spoken natively, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the populationSIL estimateNumber of speakersRanking by number of native speakers
'Amharic' Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South Official in Ethiopia. Significant communities in Israel. 17.4 million (2006) 27 million native (32.7% Ethiopia [1994 census] and 2.7 million emigrants), 10% (7 million) as a second language = 34 million total 36
'Sundanese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi Native to Indonesia (origin in western Java) 27 million (2006) 27 million (1990) 37
'Romanian' Indo-European, Italic, Romance Official in Moldova, Romania, Serbia (Vojvodina). Significant communities in Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, USA. 26.3 million (2006) 26 million native, 4 million second language. The total is about 30 million.[13] 38
'Kurdish' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern Official in Iraq. Native to Armenia, Iran, Syria, Turkey. Significant communities in Germany, Lebanon. 16 million (all varieties) ~31,417,000 (see article for full list) 39
'Dutch' Indo-European, Germanic, West Official in Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Suriname. Significant communities in South Africa, Bonaire island and Sint Maarten island 20 million (2006) 25 million[14] 40
'Pashto' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern Official in Afghanistan. Native to Pakistan. Significant communities in Iran, United Arab Emirates. 22.8 million (2006) 21–25 million (data uncertain; ethnic population ~25 million) 43
'Hausa' Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West Official in Niger, north Nigeria. Significant communities in Chad, Benin, Ghana, Sudan 24.2 million (2006) 24 million native, ~ 15 million second language, = ~ 40 million total 42
'Indonesian' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian 23.1 million, national language in Indonesia 17.1 million 140 million second language 43
'Oromo' Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Cushitic National language of Ethiopia. Significant communities in Kenya 17.2 million (2006) 24 million native (31.6% of Ethiopia [1994 census]), ~ 2 million second language, = 26 million total (1998 census) 43
'Tagalog' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Official and Native in Philippines. Significant communities in Canada, People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States (Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands). 17 million (2006) 22 million native (2000 census), ~65 million second language, = 85 million total 44
'Serbo-Croatian' Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and called Serbo-Croatian in respective countries. Significant communities in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia. 21.1 million (2006) 17 million 54
'Uzbek' Altaic, Turkic, Eastern Official in Uzbekistan. Native to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan 20.1 million (2006) 20 million (1995) 46
'Sindhi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India, Pakistan. Significant communities in People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong) ?, Oman? and Gibraltar. 24.5 million (2006) 28 million native, 2 million second language, = 30 million total (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) 41
'Yoruba' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid Official in Nigeria. Native to Benin 20 million (2006) 19 million native, 2 million second language, = 21 million total (1993) 48
'Somali' Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Official in Somalia''. Native to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya. Significant communities in Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom, United States Yemen 9.8 million (2006) 10-16 million native and at least 500,000 second language speakers.million (2004 WCD) 49
'Lao' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai Official in Laos. Native to Thailand. 3.2 million (2006) ~19 million Lao-Phutai dialects (including Isan) (data dated) 50
'Cebuano' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Native to Philippines 15 million (2006) 18.5 million native, ~11.5 million second language, =30 million total (2000 census) 51
'Greek' Indo-European, Greek Official in Cyprus, Greece. Significant communities in Albania, Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA. 15 million (2007) 12 million (2004), up to 10–12 million more second language 52
'Malay' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Malayic Official in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore. Native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand. Significant communities in Australia, Bahrain. 23.6 million (2006) 18 million native, 3 million second language, = 21 million total (not counting Indonesian) 53
'Igbo' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid Official in Nigeria 18 million (2006) 18 million native (1999 WA), unknown number second language. 54
'Malagasy' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines, Barito Official in Madagascar. Significant communities in Mayotte, Réunion. 10.5 million (2006) 17 million 55
'Nepali' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in Nepal, India (Sikkim). Significant communities in Bhutan.approx. 30 Million in Nepal.16 Million as native tongue & 15 as a second language(2006) 40 Million(2006) 56
'Assamese' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India (Assam). Significant communities in Bhutan. 15.4 million (2006) 15 million (1997) 57
'Shona' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Zimbabwe. Significant communities in Botswana, Mozambique. 14 million (2006) 15 million native, 1.8 million second language, = 16–17 million total, including Ndau, Manyika (2000 A. Chebanne) 58
'Khmer' Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Khmer Official in Cambodia. Significant communities in Thailand, United States (California), Vietnam 8 million (2006) 14 million native, 1 million second language, = 15 million total (2004) 59
'Zhuang' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai Official in People's Republic of China (Guangxi) 14 million (2006) 14 million native (1992), unknown number second language 60
'Madurese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi Native to Indonesia (Originally Java, Madura) 13.7 million (2006) 14 million (1995) 61
'Hungarian' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric Official in Hungary, Serbia (Vojvodina), Slovenia. Significant communities in Israel, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine 14.5 million (2006) 14 million native (1995) 62
'Sinhalese' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in Sri Lanka. Significant communities in United Arab Emirates 13.2 million (2006) 13 million native, 2 million second language, = 15 million total (1993) 63
'Fula' Niger-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian Official in Niger, Nigeria. National language in Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal. Significant communities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sierra Leone. 11.4 million (2006) ~13 million (all varieties) 64
'Tamazight' Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern National language in Algeria (Kabyle), Morocco. Significant communities in France, Netherlands, Spain (Ceuta & Melilla). 3.5 million (2006) 13+ million (1998) 65
'Czech' Indo-European, Slavic, West Official in Czech Republic. 12 million (2006) 12 million (1990 WA). 67

3–10 million native speakers


Language Family Official status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the populationSIL estimateMicrosoft ® Encarta ® 2006, Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People. Number of speakers Ranking by number of native speakers
'Zulu' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho, Swaziland 9.1 million (2006) 9.6 million native, ~16 million second language, = ~25 million total (1996 census) 68
'Quechua' Quechuan Official in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. Significant communities in Argentina 8.3 million (2006) 10.4 million, all varieties 69
'Kazakh' Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Southern Official in Kazakhstan. Significant communities in People's Republic of China (Xinjiang), Russia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 8 million (2006) 12 million 70
'Tajik' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian Official in Tajikistan. Significant communities in Uzbekistan 4,380,212. 71
'Chichewa (Nyanja)' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Malawi, Zambia. Significant communities in Mozambique, Zimbabwe. 9.3 million native (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk), 0.4 million second language (1999 WA), = 9.7 million total 72
'Haitian Creole' Indo-European, Romance, Creole Official in Haiti. Significant communities in Bahamas, Canada (Quebec), Cuba, Cayman Islands (UK), Dominican Republic, France (Guadeloupe), United States (Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York). 7.8 million (2006) 12 million (2005) 73
'Belarusian' Indo-European, Slavic, East Official in Belarus. Significant communities in Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Russia 10.2 million (2006) 9.1 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) 74
'Lombard' Indo-European, Romance Native to Italy -- 5 million Western Lombard + 3 million Eastern Lombard + others = 9.13 million (Ethnologue 2006) 75
'Swedish' Indo-European, Germanic, North National language of Sweden. Official language of Finland. 9 million (2006) 8.8 million (1986), ~9 million (2005) 76
'Kongo' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language in Angola, Congo-Brazzaville (Kituba), Congo-Kinshasa. 4.7 million (2006) 8.7 million, all varieties, including Yombe and creolized Kituba (1986–2002) (dated data) 77
'Akan' Niger-Congo, Kwa National language in Ghana 7 million (2006) 8.3 million native, ~1 million second language, = ~10 million total (2004 SIL) 78
'Albanian' Indo-European, isolate Official in Albania, Macedonia, Serbia (Kosovo). Significant communities in Greece, Italy. 6.5 million 3.6 million (data from Albania) 79
'Hmong' Hmong-Mien China. Significant communities in France (French Guiana), Laos, United States (Minnesota, Wisconsin), Vietnam 2.8 million (2006) ~4 million (Lemoine, 2005) 80
'Yi' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Burmic People's Republic of China 4.2 million (2006) 7.8 million ethnic Yi (2000 census) 81
'Tshiluba' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Congo-Kinshasa 7.8 million native, 0.7 million second language, = 8.5 million total (1991 UBS). Includes 1.5 million Kiluba. 82
'Ilokano' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines. Significant communities in United States (Hawaii). 8 million (2006) 7.7 million native (2000 census), ~2.3 second language = 10 million total 83
'Uyghur' Altaic, Turkic, Southeastern, Eastern Official in People's Republic of China (Xinjiang). Significant communities in Kazakhstan 7.6 million (2006) 7.6 million 84
'Neapolitan' Indo-European, Romance Native to Italy -- 7.5 million native 85
'Bulgarian' Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Bulgaria. Significant communities in Moldova. 9 million (2006) 6.6 million in Bulgaria (2005) and ~1 million abroad = 7.5 million native 86
'Kinyarwanda' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Rwanda. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda 7.3 million (1998) 87
'Xhosa' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Lesotho 6.9 million (2006) 7.2 million (1996 census) 88
'Balochi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian Native to Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. Significant communities in Oman, United Arab Emirates 7 million (2006) 7.0 million (1998) 89
'Hebrew' Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, North Central Official in Israel. Significant communities in USA (New York, California) and Gibraltar. 5.2 million (2006) ~7 million native (2004? needs verification), 5.1 million (1998) (10 million literate) 90
'Hiligaynon' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines 7 million (2006) 6.9 million (2000 census), est. 4.1 million second language = ~11 million total 91
'Tigrinya' Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South Official in Eritrea, Ethiopia 5.1 million (2006) 4.5 million in Ethiopia (6% of population-1994 census), ~2.25 million in Eritrea (50% of population-CIA) = 6.75 native, 146,934 as second language (1994 census) = 6.9 million total 92
'Catalan' Indo-European, Romance Official and Native to Andorra, Spain (Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia),Aragon (La Franja), France (Pyrénées-Orientales), Italy (Alghero). 6.6 million (2006) 6.7 million native, ~5 million second language, = ~12 million total (1996) (includes Valencian) 93
'Armenian' Indo-European, isolate Official in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh (''de jure'' part of Azerbaijan). Significant communities in Georgia, Lebanon, Syria, France. 6 million (2006) 6.7 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, etc.) 94
'Minangkabau' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Malayic Indonesia (Sumatra) 6.5 million (2006) 6.5 million (1981 Moussay) (dated data) 95
'Turkmen' Altaic, Turkic, Southwestern, Eastern Official in Turkmenistan. Significant communities in Afghanistan, Iran. 6.4 million (2006) 6.4 million (1995) 96
'Makhuwa' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Major language of Mozambique. Significant communities in Tanzania 2.5 million (2006) 6.4 million, all varieties, including Lomwe 97
'Santali' Austro-Asiatic, Munda Official in India 6.2 million (2006) 6.2 million (1997) 98
'Batak' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Northern Sumatra Indonesia 2 million (2006) ~6.2 million, all varieties (c. 1991 UBS) (dated data). Includes Toba, Dairi, Simalungun, etc. 99
'Afrikaans' Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Namibia,Botswana, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom. 6.4 million (2006) 6.0 million native, 10.3 million second language, = 16 million total (1996 census) 100
'Mongolian' Altaic, Mongolian Official in People's Republic of China (Inner Mongolia), Mongolia 5.7 million (2006) 5.7 million 101
'Bhili' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India 1.3 million (2006) 5.6 million, all varieties (1994). Includes 1.6 million Wagdi, etc. 102
'Danish' Indo-European, Germanic, North Official in Denmark, Faroe Islands (Denmark), Greenland (Denmark). Significant communities in Germany (Southern Schleswig) 5.3 million (2006) 5.6 million (2006?) 103
'Finnish' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finnic Official in Finland. Significant communities in Sweden and Estonia. 6.1 million (2006) 5.4 million (1993) 104
'Gikuyu' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Major language of Kenya 5.4 million (2006) 5.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) 105
'Slovak' Indo-European, Slavic, West Official in Slovakia. 5.6 million (2006) 5.0 million (1990 WA) 106
'More' Niger-Congo, Gur National language of Burkina Faso 5.1 million (2006) ~5 million (1991) 107
'Swahili' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Tanzania. Significant communities in Comoros, Mayotte, Oman, Réunion. 5 million (2006) ~5 million native, ~40 million second language [data need verification; only 700 thousand native in Tanzania] 108
'Southern Quechua Quechuan Official in Perú, Bolivia ~5,000,000 109
'Guarani' Tupi Official in Paraguay. Significant communities in Argentina. 5.1 million (2006) 4.9 million (1995) 110
'Kirundi' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Burundi. 4.9 million (1986) (dated data) 111
'Sesotho (southern)' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Lesotho, South Africa. 4.9 million (1996 census) 112
'Romani' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Significant communities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iran, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey 3.1 million (2006) 4.8 million, all varieties, including Domari (data for Vlax 2002–2004; for Domari 2000 WCD). 113
'Norwegian' Indo-European, Germanic, North Official in Norway. 5 million (2006) 4.7 million (2006, Statistics Norway) 114
'Tibetan' Sino-Tibetan,Tibeto-Burman, Bodic Official in People's Republic of China (Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Sichuan, Gansu) 1.3 million (2006) 4.6 million, all varieties 115
'Tswana' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Botswana, South Africa. National language of Namibia 4 million (2006) 4.4 million native, 0.2 million second language, = 4.6 million total (1993 Johnstone) (dated data) 116
'Kanuri' Nilo-Saharan, Saharan Official in Niger, Nigeria. Significant communities in Chad (Kanembu) 4.4 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 4.9 million total (data mostly from 1985) (dated data) 117
'Kashmiri' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India (Jammu and Kashmir), Native to Pakistan. 4.5 million (2006) 4.6 million (1997) 118
'Bikol' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines 3.3 million (2006) 4.5 native, all varieties (2000 census), unknown number second language 119
'Georgian' Kartvelian Official in Georgia. Significant communities in Israel. 4.1 million (2006) 4.2 million (1993 UBS) 120
'Qusqu-Qullaw' Quechuan Official in Perú (Cusco and Puno departments) Also spoken in Bolivia, Argentina 4 million 121
'Umbundu' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Angola ~4 million native, unknown number second language (1995 WA) 122
'Konkani' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India (Goa).Significant communities in Uttara Kannada,Dakshina Kannada. 6 million (2006) ~4 million (1999 WA) 123
'Balinese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Bali-Sasak Indonesia (Bali, Lombok) 3.8 million (2006) 3.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) 124
'Northern Sotho (sePedi)' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Botswana 3.7 million (1996 census) 125
'Luyia' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Kenya 3.6 million (2006) 3.6 million (1989 census) (dated data) 126
'Wolof' Niger-Congo, Atlantic National language in Mauritania, Senegal. Significant communities in The Gambia. 3.4 million (2006) 3.6 million native (2002), unknown number second language 127
'Bemba' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Zambia 2.2 million (2006) 3.6 million native, unknown number second language (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) 128
'Buginese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, South Sulawesi Indonesia 3.5 million native, 0.5 million second language, = ~4 million total (1991 SIL) 129
'Luo (Dholuo)' Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic Kenya 3.4 million (2006) 3.5 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data) 130
'Maninka' Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Guinea, Mali. Significant numbers in Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone. 2.5 million (2006) 3.3 million, all varieties 131
'Mazanderani' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iran 3.3 million (2006) 3.3 million (1993) (dated data) (numbers may be confused with or include Gilaki) 132
'Gilaki' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iran 3.3 million (2006) 3.3 million (1993) (dated data) (numbers may be confused with or include Mazanderani) 133
'Shan' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai Myanmar 3million (2006) 3.3 million 134
'Tsonga' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. Significant communities in Mozambique, Swaziland. 3.2 million (2006) 3.3 million (1989, 1996) (dated data) 135
'Galician' Indo-European, Romance. Official in Spain. 4 million (2006) 3.2 million (1986) (data dated) 136
'Sukuma' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Tanzania 5 million (2006) 3.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk) 137
'Yiddish' Indo-European, Germanic, West official in Russia (Jewish Autonomous Oblast) Significant communities in Belarus, Israel, Latvia, Ukraine. 3 million (2006) 3.2 million 138
'Jamaican Creole' Indo-European, Germanic, West, Creole Jamaica. Significant communities in Panama, Costa Rica 2.8 million (2006) 3.2 million (2001) 139
'Kyrgyz' Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Southern Official in Kyrgyzstan. Native to Tajikistan 3.1 million (2006) 3.1 million (1993 UBS) (dated data) 140
'Waray-Waray' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines 2.4 million 3.1 native (2000 census), unknown number second language 141
'Ewe' Niger-Congo, Kwa Official in Togo. National language of Ghana. 2.5 million (2006) 3.1 million native, 0.5 million second language, = 3.6 million total (2003) 142
'South Bolivian Quechua' Quechuan Official in Bolivia, also spoken in Argentina 3,637,500 (ethnologue)sout 143
'Lithuanian' Indo-European, Baltic Official in Lithuania. Significant communities in Latvia. 4 million (2006) 3.1 million (1998) 144
'Luganda' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Major language of Uganda 3.0 million native (1991 census), ~1 million second language (1999 WA), = ~ 4 million total 145
'Lusoga' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Major language of Uganda, official status unclear/pending +/- 3 million native speakers (2002 census), +/- 100 000 second language speakers (dated data) 146
'Acehnese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Malayic Indonesia 3 million (2006) ~3 million (1999 WA) 147
'Kimbundu' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Angola ~3 million (1999 WA) 148
'Hindko' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Pakistan 2.5 million (2006) ~3 million (1993) (dated data) 149
'Ibibio-Efik' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Cross River Efik official in Nigeria 1.5 million (2006) ~3 million, including Anaang (1990; 1998 B. Connell) (dated data) 150

1–3 million native speakers


Language Family Official status and where spoken natively, or as an immigrant language, by more than 1% of the population Number of speakers
'Rajbangsi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India 3.0 million (1991 census)
'Garhwali' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India 2.9 million (2000)
'Bambara' Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Mali 2.8 million native, 10 million second language, = 13 million total
'Ometo' Afro-Asiatic, Omotic Ethiopia 2.8 million, all varieties, including Welayta (1998 census)
'Indian Sign Language' Language isolate (Sign language) Bangladesh, India, Pakistan 2.7 million in India, plus unknown number in Bangladesh, Pakistan (2003). Same language as Pakistani Sign Language
'Betawi creole' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi, Creole Indonesia 2.7 million (1993 Johnstone)
'Karen' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic Myanmar, Thailand, India 2.6 million, all varieties (dated data)
'Gondi' Dravidian India 2.6 million (1997)
'Senoufo' Niger-Congo, Gur National language of Mali. Native to Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire. 2.6 million, all varieties (1991, 1993, 2001)
'Latvian' Indo-European, Baltic Official in Latvia. Significant communities in Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil. 2.5 million
'Kalenjin' Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic Kenya 2.5 million (1989 census)
'Kumauni' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India 2.4 million in India (1998)
'Kamba' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Kenya 2.4 million native, 0.6 million second language, = 3.0 million total (1989 census)
'Luri' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Iran 2.4 million (1999, 2001)
'K'iche'' Mayan Guatemala 2.3 million (2000 SIL)
'Kapampangan' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines 2.3 million (2000 census)
'Central Aymara' Aymaran Official in Bolivia, Peru. Significant numbers in Argentina. 2.2 million Central Aymara (1987)
'Tiv' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid Nigeria 2.2 million native, unknown number second language (1991 UBS)
'Brahui' Dravidian Pakistan, Afghanistan 2.2 million
'Gbaya' Niger-Congo, Ubangian Central African Republic, Congo-Kinshasa 2.2 million, all varieties, including Ngbaka (2000 WCD)
'Zarma' Nilo-Saharan, Songhai Official in Niger 2.2 million (1998)
'Baoulé' Niger-Congo, Kwa Côte d'Ivoire 2.1 million (1993 SIL)
'Dogri' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Official in India (Jammu and Kashmir) 2.1 million (1997)
'Lingala' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Kinshasa. 2.1 million native (2000 WCD), 7 million second language in Congo-Kinshasa (1999 WA), unknown additional second language speakers in Congo-Brazzaville, = 9+ million total. According to Britannica (2005 Yearbook) more than 36 million people speak lingala as lingua franca.
'Sasak' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi Indonesia 2.1 million (1989)
'Kurux' Dravidian India, Nepal 2.1 million (1997)
'Mundari' Austro-Asiatic, Munda India 2.1 million (1997)
'Dinka' Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic Southern Sudan 2+ million
'Slovenian' Indo-European, Slavic, South Slavic Official in Austria, Italy, Slovenia. 2.0 million (1991 census)
'Macedonian' Indo-European, Slavic, South Official in Republic of Macedonia 2.0 million (1995) [4]
'Buyei' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai China ~2 million (1990 census)
'Beti-Pahuin' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Major language of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea. Significant communities in Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe. ~2 million. Includes Fang, Ewondo, etc.
'Zazaki' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western Turkey 1.5–2.5 million (all dialects) (1998 Paul)
'Tulu' Dravidian India 1.9 million (1997)
'Ligurian' Indo-European, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italic Italy, France, Monaco 1,920,848
'Sidamo' Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Ethiopia 1.9 million, 0.1 million second language, = 2.0 million total (1998 census)
'Bashkir' Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Northern Official in Russia (Bashkortostan) 1.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Yao' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique ~1.9 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Chuvash' Altaic, Turkic Official in Russia (Chuvashia) 1.8 million native, 0.2 million second language, = 2.0 million total (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Ijaw' Niger-Congo, unclassified Nigeria 1.8 million (all varieties)
'Fon' Niger-Congo, Kwa National language of Benin Significant communities in Togo 1.7 million native (2000 Hoddenbagh), unknown number second language
'Swati' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa, Swaziland. Significant communities in Lesotho 1.7 million (1996 census, 1993 Johnstone)
'Irish' Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic Official in the Republic of Ireland; Northern Ireland, Small communities in USA and Australia 1,656,790 (2006 Irish Census) [5]
'Nyankore' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Uganda 1.6 million (1991 census)
'Tatar' Altaic, Turkic, Northwestern, Northern Official in Russia (Tatarstan). Significant communities in Bashkortostan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 1.6 million (1989 census) [6.6 million ethnic Tatar]
'Makasar' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi Indonesia 1.6 million native, 0.4 million second language, = 2 million total (1989)
'Gusii' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Kenya 1.6 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL)
'Khandesi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India 1.6 million (1997)
'Ndebele' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa. National language of Zimbabwe. 1.6 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Chin' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman Myanmar, India 1.6 million (1990 BAP, 1996 UBS). All varieties, but ''not'' including Mizo etc.
'Vlax Romani' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Albania, Colombia, Hungary 1.5 million
'Sara' Nilo-Saharan, Central Sudanic, Bongo-Bagirmi National language of Chad. Significant communities in Central African Republic. 1.5 million native, all varieties, large number second-language speakers (dated data)
'Pangasinan' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines 1.5 million (2000 census)
'Tonga' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Zambia, Zimbabwe 1.5 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Lampung' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi Indonesia ~1.5 million (1981 Wurm and Hattori)
'Sardinian' Indo-European, Romance Official in Italy (Sardinia) ~1.5 million (1977 M. Ibba, Rutgers University)
'Scots' Indo-European, Germanic, West Scotland, Significant communities in Northern Ireland ~1.5 million native (General Register Office for Scotland, 1996)
'Dong' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Kam-Sui China 1.5 million
'Mende' Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Sierra Leone 1.5 million native, unknown number second language (1987 UBS)
'Tày' Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai Vietnam 1.5 million in Viet Nam (1999 census)
'Nahuatl' Uto-Aztecan, isolate Mexico 1.4 million (all varieties) (dated data)
'Afar' Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti 1.4 million (1998 census)
'Dagbani' Niger-Congo, Gur National language of Ghana 1.4 million, including Kusaal, Mampruli (2004 SIL)
'Koli' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India, Pakistan 1.4 million, all varieties (some data dated)
'Chiga' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Uganda 1.4 million (1991 census)
'Tumbuka' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in Malawi. Significant communities in Zambia 1.3 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Iu Mien' Hmong-Mien, Yao China 1.3 million, all varieties (1995 Wang and Mao)
'Meru' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Kenya 1.3 million (1994 I. Larsen BTL) (dated data)
'Gogo' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Tanzania ~1.3 million (1992 UBS) (dated data)
'Teso' Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic Uganda. Significant communities in Kenya 1.3 million (1991 census)
'Meithei' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman Official in India (Manipur) 1.3 million (1997)
'Tamang' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman Nepal 1.3 million
'Makonde' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Tanzania, Mozambique 1.3 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Bai' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, unclassified China 1.2 million (2003)
'Tuareg' Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Southern Official in Niger. National language of Mali. 1.2 million (1991–1998)
'Mandinka' Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Senegal. Significant communities in Gambia, Guinea-Bissau. 1.2 million (2002)
'Jula' Niger-Congo, Mande Native to Burkina Faso, Significant communities in Côte d'Ivoire ~1.2 million native, 3–4 million second language
'Temne' Niger-Congo, Atlantic National language of Sierra Leone ~1.2 million native, 0.2 million second language, = ~1.4 million total (1989 J. Kaiser)
'Haya' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Tanzania ~1.2 million (1991 UBS)
'Serer' Niger-Congo, Atlantic National language of Senegal. Significant communities in Gambia. 1.2 million (2002)
'Beja' Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic or isolate Sudan, Eritrea 1.2 million (1982 SIL)
'Nyamwezi' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Tanzania 1.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Abron' Niger-Congo, Kwa Ghana 1.2 million (2003)
'Alur' Nilo-Saharan, East Sudanic, Nilotic Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda 1.2 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Sena' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Mozambique, Malawi 1.2 million, all varieties
'Azande' Niger-Congo, Ubangian Congo-Kinshasa, Southern Sudan, Central African Republic 1.1 million (dated data)
'Walloon' Indo-European, Romance Belgium 1.1 million (1998)
'Anyi' Niger-Congo, Kwa Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana 1.2 million (1993 SIL)
'Malvi' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan India 1.1 million (1997)
'Kinaray-a' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippines Philippines 1.1 million native (2000 census)
'Soninke' Niger-Congo, Mande National language in Mali, Mauritania, Senegal. Significant communities in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia. 1.10 million (1991)
'Ho' Austro-Asiatic, Munda India 1.08 million (1997)
'Estonian' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finnic Official in Estonia 1.08 million (1989 census)
'Nyakyusa' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Tanzania, Malawi 1.05 million (1992 UBS)
'Gwari' Niger-Congo, Nupe Nigeria 1.05 million (1991 SIL, 2002 SIL)
'Lugbara' Nilo-Saharan, Central Sudanic, Moru-Madi Congo-Kinshasa, Uganda 1.04 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, 1983 SIL)
'Basque' Language isolate, Euskadi and Navarre (Spain) and Iparralde (France) Basque Country 1.03 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk, 1983 SIL)
'Naga' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman India 1.03 million, all varieties (1997)
'Susu' Niger-Congo, Mande National language of Guinea. Significant communities in Sierra Leone. 1.03 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Tausug' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippine Philippines Significant communities in Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia (Sabah) 1.02 million native (2000 census)
'Chokwe' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu National language of Angola. Significant communities in Congo-Kinshasa 1.01 million (1990 UBS)
'Kabardian' Caucasic, Circassian Official in Russia (Kabardino-Balkaria). Significant communities in Karachay-Cherkessia, Turkey 1.01 million (1993 UBS, 2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
'Ryūkyū' Japonic, Ryūkyūan Japan 1.01 million, all varieties (2000 WCD)
'Magindanaw' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippine Philippines 1.0 million native (2000 census), unknown number second language
'Maranao' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo-Philippine Philippines 1.0 million native (2000 census)
'Ancash Quechua' Waywash Official in Perú 1.0 million speakers
'Songe' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Congo-Kinshasa ~1 million (1991 WA)
'Rejang' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Sunda-Sulawesi Indonesia ~1 million (1981 Wurm and Hattori)
'Bini' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Edoid Official in Nigeria ~1 million (1999 WA)
'Ebira' Niger-Congo, Nupe Nigeria ~1 million (1989 J. Adive)
'Dagaare' Niger-Congo, Gur National language of Ghana. Significant communities in Burkina Faso. ~1 million (2003)
'Gujari' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Afghanistan, India, Pakistan 0.99 million (2000 WCD)
'Tharu' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan Nepal 0.99 million, all varieties
'Chechen' Caucasic, Nakh Official in Russia (Chechnya). 0.96 million (1989 census)
'Venda' Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu Official in South Africa 0.96 million (1996 census)
'Arakanese' Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman Myanmar, Bangladesh 0.95 million (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)

100,000 to 1 million speakers


Language FamilyOfficial status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the populationNumber of speakers
'Welsh' Indo-European, Celtic, Brythonic Official in Wales Also spoken in Patagonia and England. 750,000+
'Yucatán Maya' Mayan, Yucatecan, Yucatec-Laca México, Belize 705,000
'Ossetic' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern Spoken in Russia Official in North Ossetia, South Ossetia), Georgia, Turkey ~700,000
'Ndonga' Bantu Spoken in Namibia, Angola 690,000
'Kwanyama' Niger-Congo Angola, Namibia 671,000
'Mari' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Volgaic Russia (Official in Mari El) 600,569
'Frisian' Indo-European, Germanic, West Germanic Official in Netherlands (Friesland). 600,000 fluent speakers in 2004.
'Avar' North Caucasian (disputed), Northeast Caucasian, Avar-Andic Official in Russia's Republic of Dagestan Also spoken in the rest of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey ~600,000
'Friulian' Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian Italy ~600,000
'Lozi' Niger-Congo Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 550,000
'Udmurt' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Permic Russia (Official in Udmurtia), Kazakhstan 550,000
'Kalmyk' Altaic (controversial), Mongolic, Kalmyk-Oirat Spoken in Russia (Kalmykia), China, Mongolia 518,500
'Breton' Indo-European, Celtic, Brythonic No official status ≤ 500,000
'Erzya' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-permic, Finno-Volgaic, Mordvinic Spoken in Russia ~500,000
'Moksha' Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-permic, Finno-Volgaic, Mordvinic Russia (Mordovia) ~500,000
'Zaptotec' Oto-Manguean, Zapotecan Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla Guerrero) Also spoken in USA ~500,000
'Lezgi' Northeast Caucasian, Lezgian Spoken in Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan 450,000
'Mapudungun' language isolate Significant communities in Chile, Argentina 440,000 (ethnologue)
'Dargin' Caucasian (geographical convention), North (disputed), Northeast Spoken in Dagestan, Russia 439,000
'Ingush' Caucasian ''(disputed)'', North ''(disputed)'', Northeast, Nakh, Veinakh (Chechen-Ingush) Spoken in Russia (Ingushetia, Chechnya) 415,000
'Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl' Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Huasteca México 410,000
'Limousin' Occitan France 401,000
'Karachay-Balkar' Altaic, Turkic, Kypchak, Kypchak-Cuman Official languages of Russian areas of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia 400,000
'Buryat' Altaic, Mongolic, Northern Mongolia, China, Russia 400,000
'Provençal Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance France, Spain, Italy, Monaco 400,000
'Western Huasteca Nahuatl' Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Huasteca México 400,000
'Corsican' Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian Official in Corsica. 100,000-402,000
'Maltese' Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South Central Official in Malta, European Union. Significant communities in Australia, United Kingdom and Gibraltar 371,900 (ethnologue 2006)
'Samoan' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Nuclear MP Official in Samoa and American Samoa (United States) 370,337
'Sakha' Altaic, Turkic, Northern Turkic Russia 363,000
'Komi' Uralic, Permic Spoken in Russia (Komi Republic, Perm Krai 350,000
'Mazahua' Oto-Manguean, Otopamean, Otomian México 350,000
'Papiamento' Portuguese Creole Official in Netherlands Antilles and Aruba 329,000
'Wayuu' Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean Significant communities in Colombia, Venezuela 305,000 (ethnologue)
'Aromanian Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern Romance Greece, Albania, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia 300,000-700,000
'Adyghe' Caucasian (disputed), North Caucasian (disputed), Northwest Caucasian, Circassian Official in Russia's Republic of Adygea, Significant communities in the rest of Russia, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Republic of Macedonia, Iraq 300,000
'Icelandic' Indo-European, Germanic, North Official in Iceland. Small community in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada. 300,000
'Wanka Quechua' Quechuan Official in Peru 300,000
'Kumyk' Altaic, Turkic, Kypchak, Kypchak-Cuman Russia Dagestan 282,000
'Gascon' Occitan official in the Val d'Aran, Catalonia, Spain; in the Gascogne in southern France 253,814
'Nàmá' Khoisan, Khoe, Khoekhoe, North Khoekhoe Official in Namibia. 250,000
'Central Huasteca Nahuatl' Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec México 200,000
'Tuvan' Altaic, Turkic, Northeastern Mongolia, Russia, China 200,000
'Miskito' Misumalpan Nicaragua, Honduras 183,400
'Navajo' Na-Dené, Athabaskan, Southern Athabaskan Spoken in the USA (Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico) 178,000
'Maori Austronesian, Oceanic, Tahitic Languages Official language of New Zealand/Aotearoa 165,000 fluent speakers (New Zealand Census, 2006. Statistics New Zealand).
'Ngäbere' Chibchan, Guaymi Spoken in Panamá 133,092 (1990 Panama Census)
'Hererro' Niger-Congo Namibia, Botswana 130,000
'Highland Puebla Nahuatl' Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec México 125,000
'Highland Totonac' Totonacan, Totonac México 120,000
'Lak' North Caucasian, Northeast Caucasian Russia (Southern Dagestan) 120,000
'Orizaba Nahuatl' Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec México 120,000
'P'urhépecha' Language isolate México Michoacán ~120,000
'Tahitian' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Central-Eastern MP, Eastern MP, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Eastern Polynesian, Central E. Polynesian, Tahitic France (French Polynesia) 120,000
'Karelian' Uralic Russia 118,000
'Komi-Permyak Uralic Russia 116,000
'Arpitan (Franco-Provençal)' Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian (SIL), Oïl (SIL), Southeastern (SIL) Italy, Switzerland, France ~113,000
'Tongan' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern Malayo-Polynesian... Official in Tonga 105,319
'Bachajón Tzeltal' Mayan, Cholan-Tzeltalan, Tzeltalan México 100,000
'Ladino' Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Spanish Israel, Turkey 109,000
'Gilbertese' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern... Official in Kiribati 102,000
'Mezquital Otomi Oto-Manguean, Otopamean, Otomian México, USA 100,000
'Tabasaran' Northeast Caucasian, Lezgian Russia (Southern Dagestan) 95,905

10,000 - 100,000 speakers


Language FamilyOfficial status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the populationNumber of speakers
'Altay' Altaic, Turkic Russia, Mongolia, China 71,600
'Nogai' Altaic, Turkic Russia 67,800
'Faroese' Indo-European, Germanic, North Official in Faroe Islands. 60,000 - 80,000
'Santiago del Estero Quichua' Quechuan Spoken in Argentina 66,000 (ethnologue)
'Chamorro' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian (MP), Nuclear MP, Sunda-Sulawesi USA (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) 60,000+
'Khakas' Altaic Russia ~60,000
'Scottish Gaelic' Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic Official in Scotland. 58,652
'Ojibwe' Algonquian Canada and northern United States 55,000
'Kalaallisut' Eskimo-Aleut, Inuit Official in Denmark (Greenland) 54,000
'Kashubian' Indo-European, Slavic, West, Pomeranian Poland 53,000
'Sanskrit' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan chiefly India, but also Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal; Used in religious practices in Hinduism. 49,736 fluent speakers (1991 Indian census)
'Western Argentine Guaraní' Guaranean Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay 48,974 (ethnologue)
'Eastern Bolivian Guaraní' Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I Official in Bolivia, Also spoken in Argentina 48,974 (ethnologue)
'Cook Islands Maori' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian(MP), Central-Eastern MP, Eastern MP, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Eastern Polynesian, Central E. Polynesian, Tahitic New Zealand (Cook Islands) 42,669
'Ticuna' Language isolate Perú, Brazil, Colombia 40,000
'Aguaruna' Jivaroan Official in Perú 38,290 (2000 WCD)
'Romansh Indo-European, Romance Official in Switzerland. 35,000 native
'Rutul' Northeast Caucasian Russia, Azerbaijan +30,000
'Ladin' Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian Italy 30,000
'Inuktitut Eskimo-Aleut, Inuit Official in Canada ~30,000
'Llanito' Indo-European, Romance, Germanic, West Dialect in Gibraltar. Although also widely understood in the surrounding Campo De Gibraltar area, in Spain. 30,000 (Ethnologue 2006)
'Evenki' Altaic, Tungusic Russia, China, Mongolia 29,000
'Nenets Uralic Russia 27,273
'Mbyá Guaraní' Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní (I) Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay 27,000
'Sioux' Siouan-Catawban, Siouan, Mississippi Valley, Dakotan USA, Canada 26,300
'Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz' Mataco-Guaicuru Argentina 25,000 (ethnologue)
'Asháninka' Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine Official language of Perú 23,750 - 28,500 (2000 SIL)
'Nivaclé' Mataco-Guaicuru Paraguay 18,200 (ethnologue)
'Agul' Northeast Caucasian, Lezgian Russia, Azerbaijan 17,373 (1989 Census)
'Kaiwá' Brazil 15,512 (Ethnologue)
'Cherokee' Iroquoian, Southern Iroquoian USA (Oklahoma) 15,000-22,000
'Mahl' Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Insular Indo-Aryan India 15,000-20,000
'Tsez' North Caucasian Russia 15,000
'Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay' Mataco-Guaicuru Argentina 15,000 (ethnologue)
'!Kung' Khoisian Namibia, Angola 15,000
'Tuamotuan Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian... France (French Polynesia) 14,400
'South Ucayali Ashéninka]' Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine Official in Perú 13,000
'Pajonal Ashéninka' Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine Official in Perú 12,000
'Pichis Ashéninka' Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine Official in Perú 12,000
'Khanty' Uralic Russia 12,000
'Chiripá' Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I Brazil, Paraguay 11,500 (ethnologue)
'Chayahuita' Cahuapanan Official in Perú 11,384 (2000, WCD)
'Tuvaluan' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic, Ellicean Tuvalu, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand 10,670
'Aragonese' Indo-European, Romance Huesca province (Spain). No official status. 10,000 native, 30,000-50,000 with some knowledge (Dated data)
'Central Alaskan Yup'ik' Eskimo-Aleut United States (Alaska) ~10,000
'Shor' Altaic Russia 9,800

Fewer than 10,000


Language FamilyOfficial status and where spoken natively by more than 1% of the populationNumber of speakers
'Huambisa' Jivaroan Official in Perú 9,333 (2000 WCD)
'Lakota' Siouan-Catawban, Siouan, Mississippi Valley, Dakotan, Sioux USA 8,000-9,000
'Chukchi' Chukotko-Kamchatkan Russia 7,742
'Huitotot' Bora-Huitoto, Huitoto-Ocaina Official in Perú Also spoken in Colombia 7,378-8,162 (Adelaar, 2004)
'Southern Aymara' Aymaran Official in Perú Also spoken in Brazil 7,212 (2001 SIL)
'Ucayali-Yurúa Ashéninka Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine Official in Perú Also spoken in Brazil 7,212
'Megleno-Romanian' Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern Romance Greece, Romania, Republic of Macedonia 5,000-12,000
'Western Desert Language Pama-Nyungan Australia 6,103 (Ethnologue)
'Perené Ashéninka' Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Pre-Andine Official in Peru 5,500
'Achuar-Shiwiar' Jivaroan Official in Perú, Also spoken in Ecuador 5,000
'Cashibo-Cacataibo' Panoan Perú 5,000 (Ethnologue, 1999)
'Dolgan' Altaic Russia ~5,000
'Rapa Nui (Easter Islander) Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern, Oceanic, Central-Eastern, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East, Polynesian, Nuclear Polynesian, Eastern Polynesian Chile (Rapa Nui (Easter Island)) 4,650
'!Xóõ' Khoisian Namibia, Botswana 4,200
'Ajyíninka Apurucayali Arawakan, Maipuran Official in Perú 4,000
'Mansi' Uralic Russia 3,184
'Koryak' Chukotko-Kamchatkan Russia 3,019
'Jaqaru' Aymaran Official in Perú 3,009
'Candoshi-Shapra' Language Isolate Official in Perú 3,000 (1991, SIL)
'Yague' Peba-Yaguan Official in Perú 3,000-4,000 (''dated'')
'Kala Lagaw Ya' Pama-Nyungan Australia 3,000-4,000
'Inupiaq' Aleut Canada 3,500
'Carolinian' Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Eastern, Eastern, Oceanic, Central-Eastern, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ponapeic-Trukic United States Official in Northern Mariana Islands 3,000
'Warlpiri' Pama-Nyungan Australia 3,000
'Murui Huitoto' Witotoan, Witoto, Witoto Proper, Minica-Murui Official in Peru, also spoken in Colombia 2,900 (SIL, 1995)
'Bora Witotan Official in Perú Also spoken in Colombia 2,828
'Cashinahua' Panoan Official in Perú Also spoken in Brazil 2,000
'Inuinnaqtun' Aleut Canada 2,000
'Arrernte' Pama-Nyungan Australia 1,500
'Manx Gaelic' Indo-European, Celtic Isle of Man 1,750
'Minica Huitoto' Witotoan Official in Perú, Also spoken in Colombia 1,705 (2000 WCD)
'Culina Arauan Official in Peru Also spoken in Brazil 1,303
'Chipaya Uru-Chipaya Official in Peru 1,200
'Walmajarri' Pama-Nyungan Australia 1,000
'Ottomanish' Altaic-Turkic Turkey 900

Macrolanguages


The following are the largest ISO 639 macrolanguages, which in different sources may be counted as either one or several languages.

★ Chinese language (ca. 1,300 million)

★ Arabic language (ca. 200 million)

★ Rajasthani language (ca. 80 million): subsumed under Hindi in the Indian census.

★ Pashto language (ca. 40 million)

★ Persian language (ca. 30 million, second language up to 100 million)

★ Azerbaijani language (ca. 25 million)

★ Oromo language (ca. 25 million)

★ Uzbek language (ca. 23 million)

★ Malay language (ca. 23 million)

★ Serbo-Croatian language (ca. 17 million)

★ Malagasy language (ca. 17 million)

★ Kurdish language (ca. 16 million)

★ Fula language (ca. 15 million)

★ Zhuang language (ca. 14 million)

★ Swahili language (5-10 million, second language up to 80 million)

References


1. [1]
2. Encarta
3. Universidad de México
4. Instituto Cervantes ("El Mundo" news)
5. 20,000 Teaching Jobs
6. Hindi
7. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/dglf/politique-langue/franco-chiffre-2000.html
8. http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/francophonie/francophonie.htm
9. [2]
10. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf
11. sum of 10 dialects; 43 million if all of Southwestern Iranian is included.[3]
12. 2006 CIA Factbook: Iran 39 M (58%), Afghanistan 15 M (50%), Tajikistan 5.8 M (80%), Uzbekistan 1.2 M (4.4%)
13. The Latin Union reports 28 million speakers for Romanian, out of whom 24 million are native speakers of the language: ''Latin Union - The odyssey of languages:'' ro, es, fr, it, pt; see also Ethnologue report for Romanian
14. Het Nederlandse taalgebied

See also



★ List of Indian languages by number of native speakers

★ Linguistic demography

External links



★ Top 30 languages of the world

★ List of top 100 languages in 13th edition of Ethnologue (1996)

★ Different lists of the most spoken languages (the Ethnologue list is from a previous, not the 2005, edition).

★ Ethnologue - SIL's Ethnologue, widely referenced source for the world's languages

★ Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People - Encarta list, based on data from Ethnologue, but some figures (e.g. for Arabic) widely vary from it

★ 30 most widely spoken world languages

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