Benin

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1990, Constitution, Article 1). 3,820,000 in Benin (2018), L2 users.

Baatonum

[bba] 3 (Wider communication). Used as conquest language in 17th century. Widespread under European colonization beginning in the 1880’s in northeast Benin and northwest Nigeria. Language of colonization, trade, and church. 941,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,041,000.

Dendi

[ddn] 3 (Wider communication). The Dendi ethnic group came from Mali in 16th century and settled in north-central Benin. Now used as trade language across northern Benin. 268,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 270,050.

Fon

[fon] 3 (Wider communication). Used in early 17th century in the Fon kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). Used as slave trade language in 18th century with arrival of European colonizers. After slave trade ended in 1848, became widespread in Southern Benin, Southwest Nigeria and Togo. 2,000,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 2,070,400.

Gen

[gej] 3 (Wider communication). 130,000 in Benin (2018).

Hausa

[hau] 3 (Wider communication). 1,056,000 in Benin (2019 Joshua Project), L2 users.

Tem

[kdh] 3 (Wider communication). 22,200 in Benin (2018).

Yoruba

[yor] 3 (Wider communication). 209,000 in Benin (2018).

5 (Developing)

Anufo

[cko] 5* (Developing). 13,800 in Benin (2002 SIL).

Foodo

[fod] 5* (Developing). 20,700 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 21,700.

Lama

[las] 5* (Developing). 60,000 in Benin (2006 J. Leclerc).

Aja

[ajg] 5 (Developing). 941,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,131,000.

Anii

[blo] 5 (Developing). 33,600 in Benin (2011 SIL). Total users in all countries: 48,900.

Biali

[beh] 5 (Developing). 162,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 166,080.

Boko

[bqc] 5 (Developing). 100,000 in Benin (2013 R. Jones). 28,800 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 150,000.

Ditammari

[tbz] 5 (Developing). 211,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 245,300.

Ede Idaca

[idd] 5 (Developing). 170,000 (2018).

Fulfulde, Borgu

[fue] 5 (Developing). 624,000 in Benin (2018). Most monolinguals are in Borgou Department, Nikki Commune. Total users in all countries: 734,000.

Fulfulde, Gorgal

[fuh] 5 (Developing). 30,000 in Benin.

Gbe, Saxwe

[sxw] 5 (Developing). 284,000 (2018).

Gourmanchéma

[gux] 5 (Developing). 61,100 in Benin (2018).

Gun

[guw] 5 (Developing). 703,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,162,000.

Ifè

[ife] 5 (Developing). 43,600 in Benin (2016).

Lukpa

[dop] 5 (Developing). 140,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 157,900.

Mbelime

[mql] 5 (Developing). 37,600 in Benin (Tchegnon and Guidibi 2006), increasing. Total users in all countries: 39,900.

Miyobe

[soy] 5 (Developing). 2,260 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 17,160.

Mokole

[mkl] 5 (Developing). 35,900 (2018).

Nateni

[ntm] 5 (Developing). 102,000 (2018).

Ngangam

[gng] 5 (Developing). 160,000 in Benin (2018).

Waama

[wwa] 5 (Developing). 115,000 (2018).

Yom

[pil] 5 (Developing). 364,000, all users. L1 users: 214,000 (2018). Includes 209,000 Yom and 4,820 Taneka (2018). L2 users: 150,000. Almost no monolinguals. Ethnic population: 300,000. 230,000 Yowa; 70,000 Tangma.

6a (Vigorous)

Aguna

[aug] 6a (Vigorous). 14,000 in Benin (2014 SIL). Total users in all countries: 28,000.

American Sign Language

[ase] 6a* (Vigorous). 12,500 in Benin (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.1% of the total population.

Ede Cabe

[cbj] 6a (Vigorous). 3,750 (2018).

Ede Ica

[ica] 6a (Vigorous). 45,800 (2018).

Ede Ije

[ijj] 6a (Vigorous). 155,000 (2018).

Ede Nago, Kura

[nqk] 6a (Vigorous). 25,000 (2002 SIL).

Gbe, Ayizo

[ayb] 6a (Vigorous). 476,000 (2018).

Gbe, Ci

[cib] 6a (Vigorous). 25,000 (2002 SIL).

Gbe, Defi

[gbh] 6a (Vigorous). 7,340 (2018).

Gbe, Eastern Xwla

[gbx] 6a (Vigorous). 80,000 (2002). Total Xwla Gbe: 160,000 (2018).

Gbe, Gbesi

[gbs] 6a (Vigorous). 65,000 (2002 SIL).

Gbe, Kotafon

[kqk] 6a (Vigorous). 162,000 (2018).

Gbe, Maxi

[mxl] 6a (Vigorous). 352,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 402,800.

Gbe, Tofin

[tfi] 6a (Vigorous). 143,000 (2018).

Gbe, Waci

[wci] 6a (Vigorous). 61,300 in Benin (2018).

Gbe, Weme

[wem] 6a (Vigorous). 284,000 (2018).

Gbe, Western Xwla

[xwl] 6a (Vigorous). 50,000 in Benin (2002). Total Xwla Gbe: 160,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 81,100.

Gbe, Xwela

[xwe] 6a (Vigorous). 84,700 (2018).

Kabiyè

[kbp] 6a* (Vigorous). 15,600 in Benin (2018).

Nago, Northern

[xkb] 6a (Vigorous). 30,000 in Benin (2002). All Nago: 760,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 88,800.

Nago, Southern

[nqg] 6a (Vigorous). 200,000 (2002). All Nago: 760,000 (2018).

6b (Threatened)

Kyanga

[tye] 6b* (Threatened). 1,000 in Benin (1995 R. Jones).

Notre

[bly] 6b (Threatened). 1,500 (2002 SIL).

Tchumbuli

[bqa] 6b (Threatened). 2,500 (2000 SIL).

Benin

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