Malawi

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1994, Constitution, Articles 51.1b, 56.5, 94.2b). 1,091,000 in Malawi, all users. L1 users: 11,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,080,000 (2020).

3 (Wider communication)

Chichewa

[nya] 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. 10,500,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. 7,271,000 Chewa, 2,200,000 Ngoni, 678,000 Manganja, and 382,000 Nyanja (2020 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 14,380,700.

4 (Educational)

Tumbuka

[tum] 4 (Educational). 1,950,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 2,316,000.

5 (Dispersed)

Afrikaans

[afr] 5* (Dispersed). 3,600 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Zulu

[zul] 5* (Dispersed). 72,000 in Malawi (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

5 (Developing)

Kokola

[kzn] 5* (Developing). 319,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 482,000.

Lomwe, Malawi

[lon] 5* (Developing). 3,990,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity.

Nyakyusa-Ngonde

[nyy] 5* (Developing). 149,000 in Malawi (2009 UNSD). 18,800 Nyakyusa, 130,000 Nkonde (2009 UNSD).

Sena, Malawi

[swk] 5* (Developing). 805,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity.

Tonga

[tog] 5* (Developing). 382,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity.

Yao

[yao] 5* (Developing). 2,800,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 3,728,000.

Malawian Sign Language

[lws] 5 (Developing). 93,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 55,000–110,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Deaf Action estimates 200,000 deaf overall (Baer 2013).

6a (Vigorous)

Kacchi

[kfr] 6a* (Vigorous). 13,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Lambya

[lai] 6a* (Vigorous). 59,500 in Malawi (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 106,900.

Ndali

[ndh] 6a* (Vigorous). 70,000 in Malawi (2003 SIL).

Nyika

[nkv] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 in Malawi (2007). Total users in all countries: 14,300.

6b (Threatened)

Nyiha, Malawi

[nyr] 6b* (Threatened). 10,000 (2007).

Unestablished

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 5,400 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Gujarati

[guj] Unestablished. 54,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 18,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Shona

[sna] Unestablished. 93,000 in Malawi (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Malawi

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