Botswana

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national working language. 939,900 in Botswana, all users. L1 users: 64,900 in Botswana (2020). L2 users: 875,000 (2016).

Setswana

[tsn] 1 (National). De facto national language. 1,940,000 in Botswana, all users. L1 users: 1,790,000 in Botswana (2020). L2 users: 150,000. Total users in all countries: 13,745,730 (as L1: 5,895,730; as L2: 7,850,000).

3 (Wider communication)

Naro

[nhr] 3 (Wider communication). 18,000 in Botswana, all users. L1 users: 8,000 in Botswana (2014 H. Visser). L2 users: 10,000 (Brenzinger 2013b). Total users in all countries: 20,000 (as L1: 10,000; as L2: 10,000).

4 (Educational)

Chichewa

[nya] 4 (Educational).

5 (Dispersed)

Afrikaans

[afr] 5* (Dispersed). 8,080 in Botswana (2015 UNSD).

Gciriku

[diu] 5 (Dispersed). 2,000 in Botswana (2004 R. Cook).

Herero

[her] 5 (Dispersed). 18,700 in Botswana (2015 UNSD).

Khoekhoe

[naq] 5* (Dispersed). 200 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Lozi

[loz] 5* (Dispersed). 14,000 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Ndebele

[nde] 5* (Dispersed). 23,200 in Botswana (2020).

Zezuru

[sna] 5* (Dispersed). 46,300 in Botswana (2020).

5 (Developing)

Kalanga

[kck] 5* (Developing). 171,000 in Botswana (2020).

Nambya

[nmq] 5* (Developing). 15,000 in Botswana (2004 R. Cook).

6a (Vigorous)

Birwa

[brl] 6a* (Vigorous). 15,000 in Botswana (2004 R. Cook). Total users in all countries: 71,000.

Haiǁom

[hgm] 6a* (Vigorous). 30,000 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Juǀ’hoansi

[ktz] 6a* (Vigorous). 5,000 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Kgalagadi

[xkv] 6a* (Vigorous). 78,800 (2020).

Khwedam

[xuu] 6a (Vigorous). 1,700 in Botswana (Brenzinger 2013b). Children and elderly are monolingual.

Kuhane

[sbs] 6a* (Vigorous). 6,520 in Botswana (2015 UNSD).

Mbukushu

[mhw] 6a (Vigorous). 37,100 in Botswana (2020). Total users in all countries: 95,010.

Tswapong

[two] 6a* (Vigorous). 5,380 (2003 UNSD).

6b (Threatened)

Kua

[tyu] 6b* (Threatened). 820 (2004 R. Cook).

Kung-Ekoka

[knw] 6b* (Threatened). 2,000 in Botswana (Brenzinger 2013b).

!Xóõ

[nmn] 6b* (Threatened). 2,000 in Botswana (2011 C. Naumann). Total users in all countries: 2,500.

Yeyi

[yey] 6b (Threatened). 4,180 in Botswana (2015 UNSD). Ethnic population: 47,000. Total users in all countries: 11,180.

ǀGwi

[gwj] 6b* (Threatened). 1,470 (Brenzinger 2013b).

ǁAni

[hnh] 6b* (Threatened). 1,000 (Brenzinger 2013b).

ǁGana

[gnk] 6b* (Threatened). 1,030 (Brenzinger 2013b).

7 (Shifting)

Shua

[shg] 7 (Shifting). 2,000 (Brenzinger 2013b).

Tshuwau

[hio] 7 (Shifting). 2,000 in Botswana (Brenzinger 2013b). Total users in all countries: 5,540.

8b (Nearly extinct)

ǂ’Amkhoe

[huc] 8b (Nearly extinct). 30 (Brenzinger 2013b), decreasing.

10 (Extinct)

Lower Nossob

[nsb] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers in Botswana.

Unestablished

Chinese

[zho] Unestablished. 1,000 in Botswana.

Gujarati

[guj] Unestablished. 1,850 in Botswana (2003 UNSD).

Sotho, Northern

[nso] Unestablished. 11,000 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Sotho, Southern

[sot] Unestablished. 9,300 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Xhosa

[xho] Unestablished. 9,300 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Zulu

[zul] Unestablished. 4,600 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Botswana

Primary tabs

Browse by

25th Edition

Products

Related Sites