Languages In 36 editions of 36.

most-spoken language:

• English 18.8%,
• Mandarin Chinese 13.8%,
• Hindi 7.5%,
• Spanish 6.9%,
• French 3.4%,
• Arabic 3.4%,
• Bengali 3.4%,
• Russian 3.2%,
• Portuguese 3.2%,
• Urdu 2.9% (2022 est.)

most-spoken first language:

• Mandarin Chinese 12.3%,
• Spanish 6%,
• English 5.1%,
• Arabic 5.1%,
• Hindi 3.5%,
• Bengali 3.3%,
• Portuguese 3%,
• Russian 2.1%,
• Japanese 1.7%,
• Punjabi,
• Western 1.3%,
• Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)

note 1: the six UN languages -- Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) -- are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)

note 2: all told, there are estimated to be 7,168 living languages spoken in the world (2023); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by fewer than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages -- Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)

note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia; 2,140, in Africa; 1,310 in the Pacific; 1,060 in the Americas; and 290 in Europe (2020)

• Arabic (official),
• French (lingua franca),
• Tamazight (official) (dialects include Kabyle (Taqbaylit), Shawiya (Tacawit), Mzab, Tuareg (Tamahaq))

major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Portuguese 71.2% (official),
• Umbundu 23%,
• Kikongo 8.2%,
• Kimbundu 7.8%,
• Chokwe 6.5%,
• Nhaneca 3.4%,
• Nganguela 3.1%,
• Fiote 2.4%,
• Kwanhama 2.3%,
• Muhumbi 2.1%,
• Luvale 1%,
• other 3.6% (2014 est.)

note : shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

• 55 languages;
• French (official);
• Fon (a Gbe language), Yom (a Gur language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south;
• half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba and Fulfulde

• Setswana 77.3%,
• Sekalanga 7.4%,
• Shekgalagadi 3.4%,
• English (official) 2.8%,
• Zezuru/Shona 2%,
• Sesarwa 1.7%,
• Sembukushu 1.6%,
• Ndebele 1%,
• other 2.8% (2011 est.)

• Mossi 52.9%,
• Fula 7.8%,
• Gourmantche 6.8%,
• Dyula 5.7%,
• Bissa 3.3%,
• Gurunsi 3.2%,
• French (official) 2.2%,
• Bwamu 2%,
• Dagara 2%,
• San 1.7%,
• Marka 1.6%,
• Bobo 1.5%,
• Senufo 1.5%,
• Lobi 1.2%,
• other 6.6% (2019 est.)

• Kirundi (official),
• French (official),
• English (official, least spoken),
• Swahili (2008 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal

Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

• French (official),
• Sangho (lingua franca and national language),
• tribal languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 languages and dialects

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Arabic (official),
• French (official),
• Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili),
• Comorian

• French (official),
• Lingala (a trade language),
• Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili),
• Kikongo,
• Tshiluba

major-language sample(s):

Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• French (official),
• French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages),
• many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

major-language sample(s):

Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• French (official),
• Arabic (official),
• Somali,
• Afar

Arabic (official); English and French widely understood by educated classes

major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، أفضل مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Fa d'Ambo spoken in Annobon) 32.4% (1994 est.)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Tigrinya (official),
• Arabic (official),
• English (official),
• Tigre,
• Kunama,
• Afar,
• other Cushitic languages

English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)

• Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%,
• Amharic (official national language) 29.3%,
• Somali (official regional working language) 6.2%,
• Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official regional working language) 5.9%,
• Sidamo 4%,
• Wolaytta 2.2%,
• Gurage 2%,
• Afar (official regional working language) 1.7%,
• Hadiyya 1.7%,
• Gamo 1.5%,
• Gedeo 1.3%,
• Opuuo 1.2%,
• Kafa 1.1%,
• other 8.1%,
• English (2007 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Kitaaba Addunyaa Waan Qabataamaatiif - Kan Madda Odeeffannoo bu’uraawaatiif baay’ee barbaachisaa ta’e. (Oromo)

የአለም እውነታ መጽሐፍ፣ ለመሠረታዊ መረጃ እጅግ አስፈላጊ የሆነ ምንጭ። (Amharic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• French (official),
• Fang,
• Myene,
• Nzebi,
• Bapounou/Eschira,
• Bandjabi

• English (official),
• Mandinka,
• Wolof,
• Fula,
• other indigenous vernaculars

• Asante 16%,
• Ewe 14%,
• Fante 11.6%,
• Boron (Brong) 4.9%,
• Dagomba 4.4%,
• Dangme 4.2%,
• Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%,
• Kokomba 3.5%,
• Akyem 3.2%,
• Ga 3.1%,
• other 31.2% (2010 est.)

note: English is the official language

• French (official),
• Pular,
• Maninka,
• Susu,
• other native languages

note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

• Portuguese-based Creole,
• Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language),
• Pular (a Fula language),
• Mandingo

• English (official),
• Kiswahili (official),
• numerous indigenous languages

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)

• Sesotho (official),
• English (official),
• Phuthi,
• Xhosa,
• Zulu

English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants

• Arabic (official),
• Italian,
• English (all widely understood in the major cities);
• Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)

major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Malagasy (official) 99.9%,
• French (official) 23.6%,
• English 8.2%,
• other 0.6% (2018 est.)

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

• English (official),
• Chewa (dominant),
• Lambya,
• Lomwe,
• Ngoni,
• Nkhonde,
• Nyakyusa,
• Nyanja,
• Sena,
• Tonga,
• Tumbuka,
• Yao

note : Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects; Nkhonde and Nyakyusa are mutually intelligible dialects

• Bambara (official),
• French 17.2%,
• Peuhl/Foulfoulbe/Fulani 9.4%,
• Dogon 7.2%,
• Maraka/Soninke 6.4%,
• Malinke 5.6%,
• Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%,
• Minianka 4.3%,
• Tamacheq 3.5%,
• Senoufo 2.6%,
• Bobo 2.1%,
• other 6.3%,
• unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.)

note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language

• Arabic (official and national),
• Pular,
• Soninke,
• Wolof (all national languages),
• French

major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from Modern Standard Arabic; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Tamazight words, is referred to as Hassaniya

• Creole 86.5%,
• Bhojpuri 5.3%,
• French 4.1%,
• two languages 1.4%,
• other 2.6% (includes English, one of the two official languages of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population),
• unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

• Arabic (official),
• Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit),
• French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)

major-language sample(s):

كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: the proportion of Tamazight speakers is disputed

Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.)

• Oshiwambo languages 49.7%,
• Nama/Damara 11%,
• Kavango languages 10.4%,
• Afrikaans 9.4%,
• Herero languages 9.2%,
• Zambezi languages 4.9%,
• English (official) 2.3%,
• other African languages 1.5%,
• other European languages 0.7%,
• other 1% (2016 est.)

note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages

• Hausa,
• Zarma,
• French (official),
• Fufulde,
• Tamashek,
• Kanuri,
• Gurmancema,
• Tagdal

note: represents the most-spoken languages; Niger has 10 national languages: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfuldé, Guimancema, Hausa, Kanuri, Sonay-Zarma, Tamajaq, Tassawaq, and Tubu

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages

• Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%,
• French (official) <0.1%,
• English (official) <0.1%,
• Swahili/Kiswahili (official, used in commercial centers) <0.1%,
• more than one language,
• other 6.3%,
• unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Inkoranya nzimbuzi y'isi, isoko fatizo y'amakuru y'ibanze. (Kinyarwanda)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

English

• Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%;
• other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)

note: shares of language sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

• French (official),
• Wolof,
• Pulaar,
• Jola,
• Mandinka,
• Serer,
• Soninke

• Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%,
• English (official) 5.1%,
• French (official) 0.7%,
• other 3.8%,
• unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

• English (official, regular use limited to literate minority),
• Mende (principal vernacular in the south),
• Temne (principal vernacular in the north),
• Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

• Somali (official),
• Arabic (official),
• Italian,
• English

major-language sample(s):

Buugga Xaqiiqda Aduunka, waa laga maarmaanka macluumaadka assasiga. (Somali)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%,
• isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%,
• Afrikaans (official) 12.2%,
• Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%,
• Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%,
• English (official) 8.1%,
• Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%,
• Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%,
• siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%,
• Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%,
• isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%,
• other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Die Wereld Feite Boek, n’ onontbeerlike bron vir basiese informasie. (Afrikaans)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

note: data represent language spoken most often at home

• English (official),
• Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants),
• ethnic languages include Dinka,
• Nuer,
• Bari,
• Zande,
• Shilluk

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

• Arabic (official),
• English (official),
• Nubian,
• Ta Bedawie,
• Fur

major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

• Kiswahili or Swahili (official),
• Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar),
• English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education),
• Arabic,
• many local languages

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• French (official, language of commerce),
• Ewe and Mina (in the south),
• Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north)

• Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce),
• French (commerce),
• Tamazight

major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population

• English (official),
• Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital),
• other Niger-Congo languages,
• Nilo-Saharan languages,
• Swahili (official),
• Arabic

• Bemba 33.4%,
• Nyanja 14.7%,
• Tonga 11.4%,
• Lozi 5.5%,
• Chewa 4.5%,
• Nsenga 2.9%,
• Tumbuka 2.5%,
• Lunda (North Western) 1.9%,
• Kaonde 1.8%,
• Lala 1.8%,
• Lamba 1.8%,
• English (official) 1.7%,
• Luvale 1.5%,
• Mambwe 1.3%,
• Namwanga 1.2%,
• Lenje 1.1%,
• Bisa 1%,
• other 9.7%,
• unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)

note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects

• Shona (official, most widely spoken) 80.9%,
• Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken) 11.5%,
• English (official, traditionally used for official business) 0.3%,
• 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa) 7%,
• other 0.3% (2022 est.)

note: data represent population by mother tongue

• Greenlandic,
• Danish,
• English

note: West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language; Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic) and Inuktun (Polar Inuit Greenlandic) are considered dialects of Kalaallisut and spoken by about 10% of Greenlanders

• Icelandic,
• English,
• Polish,
• Nordic languages,
• German

Norwegian, Russian

major-language sample(s):

Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%,
• Pashto (official) 48%,
• Uzbeki 11%,
• English 6%,
• Turkmani 3%,
• Urdu 3%,
• Pashaie 1%,
• Nuristani 1%,
• Arabic 1%,
• Balochi 1%,
• other <1% (2020 est.)

major-language sample(s):

کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari) د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note 1: percentages sum to more than 100% because many people are multilingual

note 2: Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pashaie, Nuristani, Balochi, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them

• Armenian 97.2%, Russian 1.4%, Ezidian 1.0%; less than 1%: other, unknown (2022)

major-language sample(s):

Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Azerbaijani 96.1%, other 1.4%; less than 1%: Russian, Avar, Talyshi, Turkish, Tatar, Sakhur, Tat, Ukrainian, Georgian, Hebrew (2019 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: Russian is widely spoken

• Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):

বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Sharchopkha 28%,
• Dzongkha (official) 24%,
• Lhotshamkha 22%,
• other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

• Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages;
• note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

major-language sample(s):

世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Standard Chinese)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Georgian (official) 87.6%,
• Azeri 6.2%,
• Armenian 3.9%,
• Russian 1.2%,
• other 1% (including Abkhaz, the official language in Abkhazia) (2014 est.)

major-language sample(s):

მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, ძირითადი ინფორმაციის აუცილებელი წყარო. (Georgian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Hindi 43.6%, Bengali 8%, Marathi 6.9%, Telugu 6.7%, Tamil 5.7%, Gujarati 4.6%, Urdu 4.2%, Kannada 3.6%, Odia 3.1%, Malayalam 2.9%, Punjabi 2.7%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.1%, other 5.6%;
• English is the subsidiary official language but is the most important one for national, political, and commercial communication (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):

विश्व फ़ैक्टबुक, आधारभूत जानकारी का एक अनिवार्य स्रोत (Hindi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note 1: there are 22 other recognized languages -- Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu

note 2: Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language

Japanese

major-language sample(s):

必要不可欠な基本情報の源、ワールド・ファクトブック(Japanese)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%,
• Russian 83.7%,
• English 35.1% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Әлемдік деректер кітабы, негізгі ақпараттың таптырмайтын көзі. (Kazakh)

Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: percentages are based on population that understands the spoken language

Korean

major-language sample(s):

월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Korean, English

major-language sample(s):

월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%,
• Uzbek 14.4%,
• Russian (official language) 9%,
• other 5.2% (2009 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Дүйнөлүк фактылар китеби, негизги маалыматтын маанилүү булагы. (Kyrgyz)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)

• Mongolian 90% (official, Khalkha dialect is predominant),
• Turkic,
• Russian (1999)

major-language sample(s):

Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Nepali (official) 44.9%,
• Maithali 11.1%,
• Bhojpuri 6.2%,
• Tharu 5.9%,
• Tamang 4.9%,
• Bajjika 3.9%,
• Avadhi 3%,
• Nepalbhasha (Newari) 3%,
• Magar Dhut 2.8%,
• Doteli 1.7%,
• Urdu 1.4%,
• Yakthung/Limbu 1.2%,
• Gurung 1.1%,
• other 8.9% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s):

विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2021 national census; many in government and business also speak English

• Punjabi 38.8%,
• Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 18.2%,
• Sindhi 14.6%,
• Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 12.2%,
• Urdu 7.1%,
• Balochi 3%,
• Hindko 2.4%,
• Brahui 1.2%,
• other 2.4%

major-language sample(s):

دنیا کا قاموس، ایک لازمی زریہ بنیادی معلومات کا (Urdu)

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note: data represent population by mother tongue; English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries)

• Russian (official) 85.7%,
• Tatar 3.2%,
• Chechen 1%,
• other 10.1% (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian)

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note: data represent native language spoken

• Sinhala (official) 87%,
• Tamil (official) 28.5%,
• English 23.8% (2012 est.)

note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution

• Tajik (official) 84.4%,
• Uzbek 11.9%,
• Kyrgyz 0.8%,
• Russian 0.5%,
• other 2.4% (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Китоби Фактҳои Ҷаҳонӣ, манбаи бебадали маълумоти асосӣ (Tajik)

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note: Russian widely used in government and business

• Turkmen (official) 72%,
• Russian 12%,
• Uzbek 9%,
• other 7%

major-language sample(s):

Dünýä Faktlar Kitaby – esasy maglumatlaryň wajyp çeşmesidir (Turkmen)

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• Uzbek (official) 74.3%,
• Russian 14.2%,
• Tajik 4.4%,
• other 7.1%

major-language sample(s):

Jahon faktlari kitobi, asosiy ma'lumotlar uchun zaruriy manba. (Uzbek)

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note: in the semi-autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status

English (official)

English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based creole)

• Papiamento (official) (a creole language that mixes Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, African languages, and Arawak) 69.4%,
• Spanish 13.7%,
• English (widely spoken) 7.1%,
• Dutch (official) 6.1%,
• Chinese 1.5%,
• other 1.7%,
• unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)

• English 62.9% (official),
• Spanish 56.6%,
• Creole 44.6%,
• Maya 10.5%,
• German 3.2%,
• Garifuna 2.9%,
• other 1.8%,
• unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

English (official), Virgin Islands Creole

• English (official) 88.8%,
• Spanish 3.9%,
• Filipino 3.8%,
• other 2.8%,
• unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)

note: data represent main language spoken at home

Spanish (official), English

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish (official)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 80%,
• Dutch (official) 8.8%,
• Spanish 5.6%,
• English (official) 3.1%,
• other 2.3%,
• unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

note: data represent most spoken language in household

English (official), French patois

Spanish (official)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

English (official), French patois

• Spanish (official) 69.9%,
• Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%),
• other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna

French (official), Creole (official)

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, sous endispansab pou enfomasyon debaz. (Haitian Creole)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

English, Jamaican patois

English

• Spanish (official) 99.5%,
• Indigenous 0.3%,
• Portuguese 0.1%,
• other 0.1% (2020 est.)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast

• Spanish (official),
• Indigenous languages (including Ngabere (Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), and Bri Bri),
• Panamanian English Creole (a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere, also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole),
• English,
• Chinese (Yue and Hakka),
• Arabic,
• French Creole,
• other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese)

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish, English

major-language sample(s):

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

French (primary), English

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

English (official)

English (official), Saint Lucian Creole

• French (official),
• Dutch,
• English,
• Guadeloupian Creole,
• Haitian Creole,
• Italian,
• Martiniquan Creole,
• Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles),
• Spanish

major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

• English,
• Vincentian Creole English,
• French patois

• English (official) 67.5%,
• Spanish 12.9%,
• Creole 8.2%,
• Dutch (official) 4.2%,
• Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 2.2%,
• French 1.5%,
• other 3.5% (2001 est.)

• English (official),
• Trinidadian Creole English,
• Tobagonian Creole English,
• Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi),
• Trinidadian Creole French,
• Spanish,
• Chinese

English (official)

• English 71.6%,
• Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%,
• French or French Creole 8.6%,
• other 2.5% (2010 est.)