Suriname

Dutch

[nld] 1 (National). De facto national language. 126,200 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 125,000 (2005).

3 (Wider communication)

Sranan Tongo

[srn] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Suriname’s lingua franca since 1725. First used as communication among slaves, trade language. Now used by majority of people. 291,000 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 150,000 (2016). Total users in all countries: 669,600 (as L1: 519,600; as L2: 150,000).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 202,200 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Suriname (2019). L2 users: 201,000 (2019).

5 (Developing)

Aukan

[djk] 5* (Developing). 45,300 in Suriname (2018). 1,550 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 67,800.

Wayana

[way] 5* (Developing). 450 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 450 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,740.

Hindustani, Sarnami

[hns] 5 (Developing). 153,000 in Suriname (2018). Ethnic population: 160,000 (2003). Total users in all countries: 299,400.

Javanese, Suriname

[jvn] 5 (Developing). 75,500 in Suriname (2018). Total users in all countries: 78,440.

Saramaccan

[srm] 5 (Developing). 31,500 in Suriname (2018). Total users in all countries: 34,500.

Trió

[tri] 5 (Developing). 1,300 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,300 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,460.

6a (Vigorous)

Sign Language of the Netherlands

[dse] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,000 in Suriname (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,100–2,300 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population.

6b (Threatened)

Carib

[car] 6b (Threatened). 1,200 in Suriname (Carlin 2001). Ethnic population: 3,000 (Crevels 2012).

Kwinti

[kww] 6b (Threatened). 250 (2018), decreasing.

7 (Shifting)

Chinese, Yue

[yue] 7 (Shifting). 6,700 in Suriname (2018).

8a (Moribund)

Arawak

[arw] 8a (Moribund). 500 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Very few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,000 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,510.

Chinese, Hakka

[hak] 8a (Moribund). 9,000 in Suriname (2018), decreasing. Ethnic population: 12,000 (1971). Includes Yue [yue].

Guyanese English Creole

[gyn] 8a (Moribund). 68,000 in Suriname (2018).

Warao

[wba] 8a (Moribund). 500 in Suriname (2018).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Mawayana

[mzx] 8b (Nearly extinct). 2 in Suriname (2013 M. Michels), decreasing. Ethnic population: 40 (Crevels 2012).

Sikiana

[sik] 8b (Nearly extinct). 12 in Suriname (Crevels 2012), decreasing. Ethnic population: 60 (Crevels 2012).

Waiwai

[waw] 8b (Nearly extinct). 10 in Suriname (Crevels 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 80 (Crevels 2007).

9 (Dormant)

Akurio

[ako] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker survived into the first decade of the 2000s; 2 semi-speakers (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 40 (Crevels 2012).

9 (Second language only)

Ndyuka-Trio Pidgin

[njt] 9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community.

Unestablished

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 1,200 in Suriname (2018).

Indonesian

[ind] Unestablished. 18,900 in Suriname (2018).

Spanish

[spa] Unestablished. 3,300 in Suriname (2018).

Suriname

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