Burkina Faso

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 35). 4,750,000 in Burkina Faso, all users. L1 users: 170,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). L2 users: 4,580,000 (Beck et al 2018).

3 (Wider communication)

Jula

[dyu] 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Used as a trade language in the western half of the country, and sub-populations in all major cities. 3,616,000 in Burkina Faso, all users. L1 users: 616,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). L2 users: 3,000,000 (2012 V. Vydrine).

Mòoré

[mos] 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. The Mossi (who are Mòoré speakers) settled in Burkina Faso in the tenth century and were the most powerful and influential ethnic group. Mòoré is spoken by more than half of the population of Burkina Faso. Spread throughout the central part of the country, with sub-populations in all major cities. 6,360,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 7,984,800.

5 (Developing)

Fulfulde, Northeastern Burkina Faso

[fuh] 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. 1,170,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD).

Koromfé

[kfz] 5* (Developing). 196,000 in Burkina Faso (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Total users in all countries: 202,000.

Tamasheq, Kidal

[taq] 5* (Developing). 122,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD).

Biali

[beh] 5 (Developing). 1,500 in Burkina Faso (1991). 450 monolinguals.

Birifor, Malba

[bfo] 5 (Developing). 108,000 in Burkina Faso (1993). Many monolinguals.

Bisa

[bib] 5 (Developing). 399,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 775,000.

Bobo Madaré, Southern

[bwq] 5 (Developing). 181,000 (2009 UNSD).

Bomu

[bmq] 5 (Developing). 56,000 in Burkina Faso (1991).

Buamu

[box] 5 (Developing). 268,000 (2009 UNSD).

Bwamu, Láá Láá

[bwj] 5 (Developing). 69,200 (2000).

Cerma

[cme] 5 (Developing). 51,900 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 53,600.

Dagara, Northern

[dgi] 5 (Developing). 247,000 (2009 UNSD).

Gourmanchéma

[gux] 5 (Developing). 772,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,109,300.

Kaansa

[gna] 5 (Developing). 6,000 (1990 S. Showalter).

Karaboro, Eastern

[xrb] 5 (Developing). 35,000 in Burkina Faso (1995 SIL). Total users in all countries: 40,610.

Kasem

[xsm] 5 (Developing). 83,600 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 232,600.

Lobi

[lob] 5 (Developing). 220,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 490,000.

Nuni, Southern

[nnw] 5 (Developing). 147,000 (2009 UNSD). Census figure (2009) is for all Nuni.

Samo, Southern

[sbd] 5 (Developing). 85,000 (1998). All Samo (San) languages: 233,000 (2009 UNSD).

Sénoufo, Sìcìté

[sep] 5 (Developing). 35,000 in Burkina Faso (1999 SIL). All Senoufo languages: 173,000 (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 38,000.

Sissala

[sld] 5 (Developing). 13,000 (1991 SIL).

5 (Dispersed)

Hausa

[hau] 5* (Dispersed). 3,000 in Burkina Faso (2021 Joshua Project).

Ninkare

[gur] 5 (Dispersed). 25,100 in Burkina Faso (1991).

6a (Vigorous)

American Sign Language

[ase] 6a* (Vigorous). 102,000 in Burkina Faso (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 60,000–120,000, based on 0.3%–0.6% of the total population.

Bolon

[bof] 6a (Vigorous). 17,000 in Burkina Faso (1998 SIL). Total users in all countries: 22,920.

Bwamu, Cwi

[bwy] 6a (Vigorous). 24,000 (1999 SIL).

Dagaari Dioula

[dgd] 6a* (Vigorous). 21,000 (1999 SIL).

Dogon, Jamsay

[djm] 6a* (Vigorous).

Dogon, Tomo Kan

[dtm] 6a* (Vigorous).

Dogosé

[dos] 6a (Vigorous). 20,000 (1991 O. Balagassina).

Dogoso

[dgs] 6a (Vigorous). 9,000 in Burkina Faso (1999 SIL).

Dyan

[dya] 6a* (Vigorous). 14,100 (Vanderaa 1991).

Dzùùngoo

[dnn] 6a (Vigorous). 13,400 (1998 P. Solomiac). 4,020 monolinguals.

Jowulu

[jow] 6a (Vigorous). 1,000 in Burkina Faso (1999 SIL).

Kalamsé

[knz] 6a (Vigorous). 9,570 in Burkina Faso (1985 census). Total users in all countries: 12,070.

Karaboro, Western

[kza] 6a* (Vigorous). 30,200 (Vanderaa 1991).

Konabéré

[bbo] 6a* (Vigorous). 35,000 in Burkina Faso (1995 SIL). Total users in all countries: 60,000.

Kusaal

[kus] 6a (Vigorous). 12,800 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD).

Marka

[rkm] 6a (Vigorous). 135,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 185,800.

Moba

[mfq] 6a (Vigorous). 1,800 in Burkina Faso (Vanderaa 1991).

Natioro

[nti] 6a (Vigorous). 2,400 (Vanderaa 1991).

Nuni, Northern

[nuv] 6a (Vigorous). 45,000 (1995 SIL). 15,000–25,000 in Northwestern Nuni, 25,000–35,000 in Northeastern Nuni.

Pana

[pnq] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 in Burkina Faso (1998). Total users in all countries: 7,800.

Phuie

[pug] 6a (Vigorous). 14,300 (2000).

Samo, Matya

[stj] 6a* (Vigorous). 105,000 in Burkina Faso (1995 R. Jones). All Samo (San) languages: 233,000 (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 106,000.

Samo, Maya

[sym] 6a (Vigorous). 38,000 (1999). All Samo (San) languages: 233,000 (2009 UNSD).

Seeku

[sos] 6a (Vigorous). 16,000 (2009 UNSD).

Sénoufo, Nanerigé

[sen] 6a (Vigorous). 50,000 (1985 census). All Senoufo languages: 173,000 (2009 UNSD).

Sénoufo, Senara

[seq] 6a (Vigorous). 50,000 (1995 SIL). All Senoufo languages: 173,000 (2009 UNSD).

Siamou

[sif] 6a* (Vigorous). 17,400 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 52,100.

Sininkere

[skq] 6a (Vigorous). 6,000 (1999 SIL).

Songhay

[hmb] 6a (Vigorous). 10,000 in Burkina Faso (2011 SIL).

Toussian, Northern

[tsp] 6a (Vigorous). 19,500 (1995 SIL). 1,000 in Wenteene dialect, 18,500 in the other dialects.

Toussian, Southern

[wib] 6a (Vigorous). 19,500 in Burkina Faso (1995 SIL).

Turka

[tuz] 6a (Vigorous). 37,000 in Burkina Faso (1998 SIL).

Viemo

[vig] 6a (Vigorous). 8,000 (1995 SIL).

Wara

[wbf] 6a (Vigorous). 4,500 (Johnstone 1993).

Winyé

[kst] 6a* (Vigorous). 20,000 (1999 SIL). Most are monolingual.

6b (Threatened)

Kpeego

[cpo] 6b (Threatened). 2,000 (2012 SIL).

Lyélé

[lee] 6b (Threatened). 213,000 (2009 UNSD).

Paleni

[pnl] 6b (Threatened). 260 (2012 SIL).

Téén

[lor] 6b* (Threatened). 2,000 in Burkina Faso (1999).

Zarma

[dje] 6b* (Threatened). 600 in Burkina Faso (1987 SIL).

7 (Shifting)

Jalkunan

[bxl] 7 (Shifting). 500 (1995 SIL). Ethnic population: 800 (1995 SIL).

Khe

[kqg] 7 (Shifting). 1,300 in Burkina Faso (1983 SIL).

Khisa

[kqm] 7 (Shifting). 3,000 in Burkina Faso (1991 SIL).

8a (Moribund)

Tiéfo

[tiq] 8a (Moribund). 1,000 (1995 SIL). Ethnic population: 12,000 (1995 SIL).

9 (Second language only)

N’ko

[nqo] 9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers in Burkina Faso. Ethnic population: No ethnic community.

Burkina Faso

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