Liberia
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Akan
[aka] Users: 95,400 in Liberia (2020). 56,100 Fante, 39,300 Ashanti. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan.
Bandi
[bza] Gbarpolu county: Belleh district; Lofa county. Users: 149,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 161,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bande, Gbande, Gbandi, Gbunde. Autonym: Bandí. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Bandi.
Bassa
[bsq] Bong, Grand Bassa, and Montserrado counties; Margibi county: coastal areas and Gibi district inland; River Cess county: west. Users: 733,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 741,500. Status: 5* (Developing). Autonym: Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa.
Dan
[dnj] Nimba county. Users: 268,000 in Liberia (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Da, Dàn, Dã̀ã̀, Gio, Gio-Dan, Guio, Gyo, Yacouba, Yakuba. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Tura-Dan.
Dewoin
[dee] Bomi county: coast between Lofa and Saint Paul rivers; Montserrado county: near coast. Users: 17,100 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: De, Dei, Dewoi, Dey. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa.
English
[eng] Users: 60,000 in Liberia (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English.
Éwé
[ewe] Users: 3,560 in Liberia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe.
Gbii
[ggb] Nimba county: west of Cestos river. Users: 11,800 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Gbee, Gbi-Dowlu. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa.
Glaro-Twabo
[glr] Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties; border with Cote d’Ivoire. Users: 8,230 in Liberia (2020). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Guere-Krahn.
Glio-Oubi
[oub] Grand Gedeh county: 6 towns. Users: 7,390 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 9,890. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Glio, Oubi, Ubi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Glio-Oubi.
Gola
[gol] Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa counties: between Mano and Saint Paul rivers; Bomi and Montserrado counties: inland. Users: 177,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 192,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Gola.
Grebo
Grebo, Barclayville
[gry] Grand Kru county: southeast coast and inland. Users: 50,000 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Wedebo Grebo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian.
Grebo, Central
[grv] Grand Kru and River Gee counties; Maryland county: central Barrobo district. Users: 56,100 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian.
Grebo, Gboloo
[gec] Maryland county: east border, north of Jabo Grebo. Users: 119,000 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Gblou Grebo, Gboloo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian.
Grebo, Northern
[gbo] Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Maryland, River Gee, and Sinoe counties; near Cote d’Ivoire border. Users: 150,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Grebo. Autonym: Klépo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian.
Grebo, Southern
[grj] Grand Kru and Maryland counties: southeast coast and inland. Users: 116,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 187,000. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian.
Kisi, Southern
[kss] Lofa county: extreme northwest corner. Users: 205,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 336,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gisi, Gizi, Kissi, Kissien, kìsìéí. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi.
Klao
[klu] Grand Kru, River Cess, and Sinoe counties: southeast Atlantic coast and inland. Users: 388,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 402,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Klaoh, Klau, Kroo, Kru. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Klao.
Kpelle
Kpelle, Liberia
[xpe] Widespread. Users: 867,000 (2020). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Gbese, Kpele, Kpese, Kpwessi, Pessa, Pessy. Autonym: Kpɛlɛwoo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle.
Krahn, Eastern
[kqo] Grand Gedeh county: 2 areas along middle Cavally river; River Gee and Sinoe counties; Côte d’Ivoire border area. Users: 99,200 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 109,800. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Eastern Kran, Konobo-Eastern Krahn, Kran. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Konobo.
Krahn, Western
[krw] Grand Gedeh county: near Côte d’Ivoire border; Nimba and Sinoe counties. Users: 101,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 113,200. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Krahn, Kran, Northern Krahn, Western Kran. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Guere-Krahn.
Krumen, Tepo
[ted] River Gee county: Cote d’Ivoire border area. Glawlo dialect is southeast. Users: 5,610 in Liberia (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Kroumen, Kru, Krumen, Southern Krumen. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Ivorian.
Kuwaa
[blh] Gbarpolu county: Belleh and Bokomo districts; Lofa county: Zorzor district. Users: 27,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Belle, Belleh, Kowaao, Kwaa. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Kuwaa.
Liberian English
[lir] Widespread. Users: 5,113,000, all users. L1 users: 113,000 (2015). L2 users: 5,000,000 (2021 J. Sheppard). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Brought to Liberia in 1822 by first group of black American emigrants who settled in Providence Island, now Monrovia. Trade language and used in informal contexts. Gained usage with five varieties and spread throughout Liberia in the 19th century. Alternate Names: Kolokwa, Liberian Kolokwa English, Liberian Kreyol, Liberian Pidgin English. Classification: Pidgin, English based, Atlantic.
Loma
[lom] Gbarpolu county: Belleh district; Lofa county. Users: 299,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Loghoma, Logoma, Looma, Lorma, Toa, “Bouze” (pej.), “Busy” (pej.), “Buzi” (pej.). Autonym: Löghömàgòòi, Löömàgòòi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Loma.
Maan
[mev] Bong, Grand Bassa, and Nimba counties. Users: 341,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 427,900. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Máá, Maa, Mah, Mann, Mano, Manon, Mawe. Autonym: Mã́ã́. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Mano.
Maninka, Konyanka
[mku] Lofa county: bordering Guinea. Users: Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Konya, Konyakakan, Konyanka, Maninya. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding.
Maninkakan, Eastern
[emk] Users: 71,300 in Liberia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding.
Manya
[mzj] Lofa county: bordering Guinea. Users: 95,800 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 120,800. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Mandingo, Maninya, Manya Kan, “Toma Maninya” (pej.), “Tuu Kɔlɔ Maninya” (pej.). Autonym: Maninyakan. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding.
Mende
[men] Grand Cape Mount county: Porkpa district; Lofa county: Vahun district. Sierra Leone border area. Users: 41,600 in Liberia (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Boumpe, Hulo, Mɛnde, Mɛnde yia, “Kossa” (pej.), “Kosso” (pej.). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Mende-Loko.
N’ko
[nqo] Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers in Liberia. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Mixed language.
Sapo
[krn] Grand Gedeh and Sinoe counties; River Gee county: small border area. Users: 66,700 (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Sarpo, Southern Krahn. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Guere-Krahn.
Tajuasohn
[tja] Sinoe county: north of Greenville. Users: 20,000 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Tajuason, Tajuoso, Tajuosohn. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Klao.
Vai
[vai] Bomi county: southwest coast; Grand Cape Mount county: coast and inland. Users: 189,000 in Liberia (2020). Total users in all countries: 212,200. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gallinas, Gallines, Vei, Vy. Autonym: ꕙꔤ (Vai). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Vai-Kono.