Skip to main content
25th Edition
World
Languages
Countries
Insights
About
Help
Guinea-Bissau
Print
Primary tabs
Country
Languages
Status
(active tab)
Maps
Expand All
Collapse All
1 (National)
Portuguese
[por]
1 (National). De facto national language. 396,450 in Guinea-Bissau, all users. L1 users: 5,450 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). L2 users: 391,000 (2015 UNSD).
3 (Wider communication)
Guinea-Bissau Creole
[pov]
3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Primary L2 LWC in Guinea-Bissau. It is an L2 that is actively supported by all ethnic groups in the country, used generally in church, work, commerce, and government. 1,251,000 in Guinea-Bissau, all users. L1 users: 251,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2018), increasing. Transition from L2 to L1 use is limited to the capital city of Bissau (2019 S. Graham). L2 users: 1,000,000 (2015 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,339,500 (as L1: 319,500; as L2: 1,020,000).
5 (Developing)
Balanta-Kentohe
[ble]
5* (Developing). 369,000 (2018).
Mandjak
[mfv]
5* (Developing). 224,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). Total users in all countries: 407,700.
Papel
[pbo]
5* (Developing). 166,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). Total users in all countries: 173,500.
Pulaar
[fuc]
5* (Developing). 323,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
Soninke
[snk]
5* (Developing). 5,450 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
Jola-Felupe
[eja]
5 (Developing). 6,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2012 SIL). Total users in all countries: 8,230.
Mankanya
[knf]
5 (Developing). 53,400 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). Total users in all countries: 96,460.
5 (Dispersed)
English
[eng]
5* (Dispersed). 42,200 in Guinea-Bissau (2015 UNSD), L2 users.
Pular
[fuf]
5 (Dispersed). 1,200 in Guinea-Bissau (2000).
Spanish
[spa]
5* (Dispersed). 6,950 in Guinea-Bissau (2015 UNSD), L2 users.
6a (Vigorous)
Bainouk-Gunyuño
[bab]
6a* (Vigorous). 10,800 (2018).
Bayot
[bda]
6a (Vigorous). 5,340 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
Biafada
[bif]
6a* (Vigorous). 54,500 (2018).
Bidyogo
[bjg]
6a* (Vigorous). 36,000 (2018).
Mandinka
[mnk]
6a* (Vigorous). 182,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
Mansoanka
[msw]
6a (Vigorous). 18,600 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). Total users in all countries: 20,730.
6b (Threatened)
Bassari
[bsc]
6b* (Threatened). 500 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
Kobiana
[kcj]
6b (Threatened). 800 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,300.
Nalu
[naj]
6b* (Threatened). 10,900 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
8a (Moribund)
Badyara
[pbp]
8a (Moribund). 5,570 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).
8b (Nearly extinct)
Kasanga
[ccj]
8b (Nearly extinct). May be a few elderly speakers left (Dimmendaal and Voeltz 2007).
Unestablished
French
[fra]
Unestablished. 74,900 in Guinea-Bissau, all users. L1 users: 1,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2018). L2 users: 73,900 (2015 UNSD).
Kabuverdianu
[kea]
Unestablished. 2,300 in Guinea-Bissau (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).
Susu
[sus]
Unestablished. 5,340 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).