Statistical Summaries
Part I, “Languages of the World,” provides language-by-language information. This section steps back from the detail to offer a summary view of the world language situation. Specifically, it offers numerical tabulations of languages and number of speakers
- by world area,
- by language size,
- by language family, and
- by country.
- World area
- Language size
- Language family
- Country
Summary by language family
The genetic classifications given in the language entries of Part I name 116 different language families (that is, top-level genetic groups). Six of these, each of which has at least 5% of the world’s languages, stand out as the major language families of the world. Together they account for nearly two-thirds of all languages and five-sixths of the world’s population. Table 4 summarizes the distribution of languages and their populations within these six families. The columns are as for table 1, with the addition of a final column listing the countries under which the main entries for the languages of that family are found in Part I.
In addition to the other 110 language families, the genetic classification scheme also includes special categories for constructed languages, creoles, deaf sign languages, language isolates, mixed languages, pidgins, and unclassified languages. Table 5 summarizes the distribution of languages and their populations for these other language families and special categories. In most cases the population as a percentage of the world population is negligible; a figure is shown in that column only when the value is at least one-hundredth of one percent. Together tables 4 and 5 account for all known living languages of the world.
Table 4. Major language families of the world
Language family | Living languages | Number of speakers | Countries | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Count | Percent | Count | Percent | Mean | Median | ||
Afro-Asiatic | 353 | 5.11 | 359,495,289 | 6.03 | 1,018,400 | 21,300 | Algeria, Bahrain, Cameroon, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen |
Austronesian | 1,231 | 17.82 | 353,585,905 | 5.93 | 287,235 | 3,650 | Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, China, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Indonesia, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Wallis and Futuna |
Indo-European | 426 | 6.17 | 2,721,969,619 | 45.67 | 6,389,600 | 152,370 | Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela |
Niger-Congo | 1,510 | 21.86 | 382,257,169 | 6.41 | 253,150 | 25,600 | Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Sino-Tibetan | 445 | 6.44 | 1,259,227,250 | 21.13 | 2,829,724 | 15,700 | Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Viet Nam |
Trans-New Guinea | 475 | 6.88 | 3,334,267 | 0.06 | 7,020 | 1,500 | East Timor, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea |
Totals | 4,440 | 64.26 | 5,079,869,499 | 85.24 |
Table 5. Other language families of the world
Language family | Living languages | Number of speakers | Countries | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Count | Percent | Count | Percent | Mean | Median | ||
Alacalufan | 1 | 0.01 | 12 | 12 | 12 | Chile | |
Algic | 31 | 0.45 | 215,963 | 6,967 | 4,500 | Canada, United States | |
Altaic | 64 | 0.93 | 139,525,936 | 2.34 | 2,180,093 | 65,000 | Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan |
Amto-Musan | 2 | 0.03 | 520 | 260 | 220 | Papua New Guinea | |
Andamanese | 4 | 0.06 | 454 | 114 | 94 | India | |
Arafundi | 3 | 0.04 | 1,960 | 653 | 400 | Papua New Guinea | |
Arai-Kwomtari | 10 | 0.14 | 5,940 | 594 | 350 | Papua New Guinea | |
Arauan | 5 | 0.07 | 4,300 | 860 | 480 | Brazil | |
Araucanian | 2 | 0.03 | 302,039 | 151,020 | 2,000 | Chile | |
Arawakan | 46 | 0.67 | 688,063 | 0.01 | 14,958 | 1,800 | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Honduras, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela |
Arutani-Sape | 2 | 0.03 | 47 | 24 | 5 | Brazil, Venezuela | |
Australian | 153 | 2.21 | 38,552 | 252 | 40 | Australia | |
Austro-Asiatic | 169 | 2.45 | 103,703,873 | 1.74 | 613,632 | 10,000 | Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam |
Aymaran | 3 | 0.04 | 2,482,640 | 0.04 | 827,547 | 219,000 | Bolivia, Peru |
Barbacoan | 5 | 0.07 | 57,304 | 11,461 | 9,500 | Colombia, Ecuador | |
Basque | 1 | 0.01 | 658,960 | 0.01 | 658,960 | 658,960 | Spain |
Bayono-Awbono | 2 | 0.03 | 200 | 100 | 100 | Indonesia | |
Border | 15 | 0.22 | 17,080 | 1,139 | 410 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea | |
Caddoan | 4 | 0.06 | 66 | 16 | 20 | United States | |
Cahuapanan | 2 | 0.03 | 13,900 | 6,950 | 2,500 | Peru | |
Carib | 26 | 0.38 | 80,891 | 3,111 | 870 | Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela | |
Central Solomons | 4 | 0.06 | 14,810 | 3,702 | 1,870 | Solomon Islands | |
Chapacura-Wanham | 3 | 0.04 | 2,035 | 678 | 100 | Brazil | |
Chibchan | 21 | 0.30 | 258,864 | 12,327 | 2,000 | Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | |
Chimakuan | 1 | 0.01 | 10 | 10 | 10 | United States | |
Choco | 7 | 0.10 | 96,300 | 13,757 | 5,510 | Colombia, Panama | |
Chon | 2 | 0.03 | 6 | 3 | 2 | Argentina | |
Chukotko-Kamchatkan | 4 | 0.06 | 11,770 | 2,942 | 380 | Russian Federation | |
Constructed language | 1 | 0.01 | Unknown | Poland | |||
Creole | 77 | 1.11 | 25,512,323 | 0.43 | 331,329 | 32,000 | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Réunion, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé e Príncipe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United States, United States Virgin Islands, Vanuatu |
Deaf sign language | 126 | 1.82 | 4,260,560 | 0.07 | 33,814 | 5,000 | Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, South, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Dravidian | 84 | 1.22 | 222,682,100 | 3.74 | 2,650,977 | 26,000 | India, Nepal, Pakistan |
East Bird's Head-Sentani | 8 | 0.12 | 71,730 | 8,966 | 3,750 | Indonesia | |
East Geelvink Bay | 11 | 0.16 | 7,806 | 710 | 400 | Indonesia | |
East New Britain | 6 | 0.09 | 12,390 | 2,065 | 800 | Papua New Guinea | |
Eastern Trans-Fly | 4 | 0.06 | 6,870 | 1,718 | 1,050 | Australia, Papua New Guinea | |
Eskimo-Aleut | 10 | 0.14 | 96,891 | 9,689 | 2,420 | Canada, Greenland, Russian Federation, United States | |
Guahiban | 5 | 0.07 | 40,280 | 8,056 | 2,000 | Colombia | |
Harakmbet | 2 | 0.03 | 810 | 405 | 310 | Peru | |
Hmong-Mien | 38 | 0.55 | 8,258,015 | 0.14 | 217,316 | 61,000 | China, Laos, Viet Nam |
Hokan | 16 | 0.23 | 4,177 | 261 | 28 | Mexico, United States | |
Huavean | 4 | 0.06 | 18,340 | 4,585 | 900 | Mexico | |
Iroquoian | 8 | 0.12 | 20,770 | 2,596 | 90 | Canada, United States | |
Japonic | 12 | 0.17 | 123,090,950 | 2.07 | 10,257,579 | 5,000 | Japan |
Jivaroan | 4 | 0.06 | 99,330 | 24,832 | 9,330 | Ecuador, Peru | |
Kartvelian | 5 | 0.07 | 4,883,320 | 0.08 | 976,664 | 79,800 | Georgia, Israel, Turkey |
Katukinan | 3 | 0.04 | 1,661 | 554 | 10 | Brazil | |
Kaure | 4 | 0.06 | 985 | 246 | 200 | Indonesia | |
Keres | 2 | 0.03 | 7,970 | 3,985 | 3,390 | United States | |
Khoisan | 22 | 0.32 | 502,409 | 0.01 | 22,837 | 5,630 | Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania |
Kiowa Tanoan | 5 | 0.07 | 6,260 | 1,252 | 1,300 | United States | |
Lakes Plain | 20 | 0.29 | 6,646 | 332 | 230 | Indonesia | |
Language isolate | 45 | 0.65 | 66,624,571 | 1.12 | 1,480,546 | 900 | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, South, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russian Federation, United States, Venezuela |
Left May | 2 | 0.03 | 365 | 182 | 85 | Papua New Guinea | |
Lower Mamberamo | 2 | 0.03 | 800 | 400 | 200 | Indonesia | |
Lule-Vilela | 1 | 0.01 | 20 | 20 | 20 | Argentina | |
Macro-Ge | 24 | 0.35 | 41,096 | 1,712 | 800 | Bolivia, Brazil | |
Mairasi | 3 | 0.04 | 4,385 | 1,462 | 1,000 | Indonesia | |
Maku | 6 | 0.09 | 2,653 | 442 | 300 | Brazil, Colombia | |
Mascoian | 4 | 0.06 | 23,770 | 5,942 | 1,680 | Paraguay | |
Mataco-Guaicuru | 11 | 0.16 | 91,678 | 8,334 | 4,000 | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay | |
Mayan | 68 | 0.98 | 6,038,172 | 0.10 | 88,797 | 35,000 | Belize, Guatemala, Mexico |
Maybrat | 2 | 0.03 | 25,000 | 12,500 | 5,000 | Indonesia | |
Misumalpan | 2 | 0.03 | 190,400 | 95,200 | 7,400 | Nicaragua | |
Mixe-Zoque | 17 | 0.25 | 153,320 | 9,019 | 5,200 | Mexico | |
Mixed language | 19 | 0.28 | 897,770 | 0.02 | 47,251 | 7,000 | Armenia, China, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Malawi, Micronesia, Niger, Norway, Russian Federation, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States |
Mongol-Langam | 3 | 0.04 | 1,970 | 657 | 420 | Papua New Guinea | |
Mura | 1 | 0.01 | 360 | 360 | 360 | Brazil | |
Muskogean | 6 | 0.09 | 17,400 | 2,900 | 400 | United States | |
Na-Dene | 40 | 0.58 | 187,384 | 4,685 | 50 | Canada, United States | |
Nambiquaran | 6 | 0.09 | 1,502 | 250 | 20 | Brazil | |
Nilo-Saharan | 198 | 2.87 | 38,257,502 | 0.64 | 193,220 | 40,000 | Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda |
Nimboran | 5 | 0.07 | 8,500 | 1,700 | 2,000 | Indonesia | |
North Bougainville | 4 | 0.06 | 10,020 | 2,505 | 1,200 | Papua New Guinea | |
North Brazil | 1 | 0.01 | 200 | 200 | 200 | Brazil | |
North Caucasian | 33 | 0.48 | 6,620,325 | 0.11 | 200,616 | 8,440 | Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation |
Oto-Manguean | 175 | 2.53 | 2,016,121 | 0.03 | 11,521 | 4,350 | Mexico |
Panoan | 21 | 0.30 | 41,686 | 1,985 | 390 | Bolivia, Brazil, Peru | |
Pauwasi | 5 | 0.07 | 3,710 | 742 | 230 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea | |
Peba-Yaguan | 1 | 0.01 | 5,690 | 5,690 | 5,690 | Peru | |
Penutian | 23 | 0.33 | 6,879 | 299 | 12 | Canada, United States | |
Piawi | 2 | 0.03 | 2,600 | 1,300 | 600 | Papua New Guinea | |
Pidgin | 5 | 0.07 | 100 | 20 | 100 | Canada, India, Liberia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea | |
Quechuan | 45 | 0.65 | 10,127,900 | 0.17 | 225,064 | 25,000 | Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru |
Ramu-Lower Sepik | 32 | 0.46 | 63,005 | 1,969 | 1,080 | Papua New Guinea | |
Salishan | 19 | 0.28 | 3,134 | 165 | 64 | Canada, United States | |
Salivan | 3 | 0.04 | 16,340 | 5,447 | 2,500 | Colombia, Venezuela | |
Senagi | 2 | 0.03 | 2,960 | 1,480 | 1,270 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea | |
Sepik | 56 | 0.81 | 170,554 | 3,046 | 550 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea | |
Siouan | 12 | 0.17 | 32,760 | 2,730 | 85 | Canada, United States | |
Sko | 7 | 0.10 | 5,665 | 809 | 640 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea | |
Somahai | 2 | 0.03 | 2,200 | 1,100 | 200 | Indonesia | |
South Bougainville | 9 | 0.13 | 67,700 | 7,522 | 3,000 | Papua New Guinea | |
South-Central Papuan | 21 | 0.30 | 16,300 | 776 | 380 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea | |
Tacanan | 6 | 0.09 | 9,651 | 1,608 | 1,180 | Bolivia | |
Tai-Kadai | 90 | 1.30 | 80,278,295 | 1.35 | 891,981 | 50,400 | China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam |
Tarascan | 2 | 0.03 | 175,850 | 87,925 | 40,850 | Mexico | |
Tequistlatecan | 2 | 0.03 | 4,550 | 2,275 | 950 | Mexico | |
Tor-Kwerba | 24 | 0.35 | 16,195 | 675 | 400 | Indonesia | |
Torricelli | 56 | 0.81 | 111,145 | 1,985 | 740 | Papua New Guinea | |
Totonacan | 12 | 0.17 | 282,440 | 23,537 | 3,000 | Mexico | |
Totonacan | 19 | 0.28 | 27,220 | 1,433 | 700 | Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru | |
Tupi | 59 | 0.85 | 5,043,747 | 0.08 | 85,487 | 320 | Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru |
Unclassified | 38 | 0.55 | 395,114 | 10,398 | 360 | Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Spain, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Viet Nam | |
Uralic | 35 | 0.51 | 21,415,040 | 0.36 | 611,858 | 5,750 | Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden |
Uru-Chipaya | 2 | 0.03 | 1,202 | 601 | 2 | Bolivia | |
Uto-Aztecan | 56 | 0.81 | 1,984,795 | 0.03 | 35,443 | 6,200 | El Salvador, Mexico, United States |
Wakashan | 4 | 0.06 | 795 | 199 | 200 | Canada | |
West Papuan | 23 | 0.33 | 265,425 | 11,540 | 3,310 | Indonesia | |
Witotoan | 6 | 0.09 | 18,306 | 3,051 | 150 | Colombia, Peru | |
Yanomam | 4 | 0.06 | 33,620 | 8,405 | 6,410 | Brazil, Venezuela | |
Yele-West New Britain | 3 | 0.04 | 6,300 | 2,100 | 2,000 | Papua New Guinea | |
Yeniseian | 2 | 0.03 | 192 | 96 | 2 | Russian Federation | |
Yuat | 6 | 0.09 | 7,700 | 1,283 | 840 | Papua New Guinea | |
Yukaghir | 2 | 0.03 | 120 | 60 | 30 | Russian Federation | |
Zamucoan | 2 | 0.03 | 4,870 | 2,435 | 1,800 | Paraguay | |
Zaparoan | 4 | 0.06 | 91 | 23 | 5 | Ecuador, Peru | |
Totals | 2,469 | 35.74 | 879,642,218 | 14.76 |
Part of the Ethnologue, 16th Edition, M. Paul Lewis, Editor.
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