South Sudan

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (2011, Constitution, Article 6.2). Almost no L1 speakers.

Arabic, Sudanese Spoken

[apd] 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Used as a lingua franca in northern South Sudan and now widely spoken by hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese arriving from the North following South Sudan’s independence. 345,000 in South Sudan (2021 Joshua Project), increasing, based on ethnicity.

Bari

[bfa] 3 (Wider communication). Regional language chosen for development by Rejaf Conference 1928. 941,000, all users. L1 users: 766,000 (2017). L2 users: 175,000 (2013 SIL).

Juba Arabic

[pga] 3 (Wider communication). Juba Arabic originated as a pidgin language among southern slaves, soldiers, and servants in 19th century trading camps and Turco-Egyptian government stations. Unofficial lingua franca of local government, trade, and urban interaction. 1,447,000, all users. L1 users: 247,000 (Avram 2020). With the rapidly changing demographic situation it is very difficult to know the number of L1 or L2 speakers and whether these numbers are increasing or decreasing. L2 users: 1,200,000 (2019 SIL).

Zande

[zne] 3 (Wider communication). LWC across Gbudwe and Tambura states, for church, market, and media domains. Regional language chosen for development by Rejaf Conference 1928. 1,100,000 in South Sudan, all users. L1 users: 1,000,000 in South Sudan (2017). L2 users: 100,000 (2013 SIL).

5 (Dispersed)

Acholi

[ach] 5 (Dispersed). 88,000 in South Sudan (2017).

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 5* (Dispersed). 3,130,000 in South Sudan (2016 SIL), all users.

5 (Developing)

Bongo

[bot] 5* (Developing). 21,000 (2017).

Anuak

[anu] 5 (Developing). 131,000 in South Sudan (2017). Total users in all countries: 223,710 (as L1: 221,600; as L2: 2,110).

Avokaya

[avu] 5 (Developing). 74,000 in South Sudan (2017). Total users in all countries: 99,000.

Baka

[bdh] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 61,000 in South Sudan (2017). Total users in all countries: 62,300.

Belanda Bor

[bxb] 5 (Developing). 26,000 (2017).

Belanda Viri

[bvi] 5 (Developing). 73,000 (2017).

Beli

[blm] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 65,000 (2009 SIL).

Didinga

[did] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)). 100,000 (2017).

Dinka, Northeastern

[dip] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 923,000 (2017).

Dinka, South Central

[dib] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)). 851,000 (2017).

Dinka, Southeastern

[dks] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 987,000 in South Sudan (2017). Total users in all countries: 989,120.

Dinka, Southwestern

[dik] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 1,370,000 (2017).

Gbaya

[krs] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution Article 6(1)). 20,000 in South Sudan, all users. L1 users: 16,000 in South Sudan (2013 SIL). L2 users: 4,000.

Jumjum

[jum] 5 (Developing).

Jur Modo

[bex] 5 (Developing). 180,000 (2017).

Kakwa

[keo] 5 (Developing). 149,000 in South Sudan (2017).

Keliko

[kbo] 5 (Developing). 30,000 in South Sudan (2018 SIL). Total users in all countries: 42,500.

Luwo

[lwo] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 257,000 (2017).

Mabaan

[mfz] 5 (Developing). 90,000 (2017 UBS).

Mandari

[mqu] 5 (Developing). 70,000 (2014 T. Stirtz).

Morokodo

[mgc] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 50,000 (2011 A. Persson). 280 Biti (2011 A. Persson).

Moru

[mgd] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)). 230,000 (2017).

Mündü

[muh] 5 (Developing). 23,000 in South Sudan. Total users in all countries: 25,800.

Murle

[mur] 5 (Developing). 196,000 (2017).

Narim

[loh] 5 (Developing). 3,620 (Fukui 1984).

Ndogo

[ndz] 5 (Developing). 48,000 (2017). Few monolinguals.

Nuer

[nus] 5 (Developing). 1,550,000 in South Sudan (2017). Total users in all countries: 1,706,280 (as L1: 1,705,160; as L2: 1,120).

Olu’bo

[lul] 5 (Developing). 33,000 (2017).

Otuho

[lot] 5 (Developing). 312,000 (2017).

Päri

[lkr] 5 (Developing). 79,000 (2017).

Reel

[atu] 5 (Developing). 116,000 (2017). The Kuek and Jikeyi have many monolinguals and are regarded as having the purest form of the language (SIL).

Shilluk

[shk] 5 (Developing). 574,000 (2017).

Tennet

[tex] 5 (Developing). 10,000 (2009 SIL).

Toposa

[toq] 5 (Developing). 312,000 in South Sudan (2017). Most are monolingual. Total users in all countries: 315,000.

Uduk

[udu] 5 (Developing). 22,000 in Sudan and South Sudan (split between the 2 not known).

6a (Vigorous)

Banda, Togbo-Vara

[tor] 6a* (Vigorous). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Dinka, Northwestern

[diw] 6a (Vigorous). 93,000 (2017).

Fulfulde, Adamawa

[fub] 6a* (Vigorous).

Imotong

[imt] 6a (Vigorous). 16,000 (2021 SIL).

Komo

[xom] 6a (Vigorous). 26,000 in South Sudan (2017).

Lango

[lgo] 6a (Vigorous). 19,000 (2021 SIL).

Logir

[lqr] 6a (Vigorous). 15,000 (2021 SIL).

Lopit

[lpx] 6a (Vigorous). 117,000 (2017).

Ma’di

[mhi] 6a (Vigorous). 33,000 in South Sudan (2017).

Nyamusa-Molo

[nwm] 6a (Vigorous). 1,630 (2011 R. Abraham).

Okolie

[oie] 6a (Vigorous). 16,000 (2021 SIL).

Opo

[lgn] 6a* (Vigorous). 15,000 in South Sudan (2019). Self-reported estimate by language community.

Suri, Kacipo-Bale

[koe] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 in South Sudan (2010 SIL). Almost all monolingual. Total users in all countries: 7,360.

6b (Threatened)

Dongotono

[ddd] 6b (Threatened). 5,000 (2013 SIL).

Kuku

[ukv] 6b* (Threatened). 196,000 in South Sudan (2008 census).

Lokoya

[lky] 6b* (Threatened). 85,000 (2017). No monolinguals.

7 (Shifting)

Bai

[bdj] 7 (Shifting). 2,500 (Welmers 1971a).

Banda, Mid-Southern

[bjo] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Banda-Banda

[bpd] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Banda-Mbrès

[bqk] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Banda-Ndélé

[bfl] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Feroge

[fer] 7 (Shifting). 26,000 (2017).

Mo’da

[gbn] 7 (Shifting). 600 (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

Thuri

[thu] 7 (Shifting). 6,600 (Tucker and Bryan 1956).

Yulu

[yul] 7 (Shifting). 3,000 in South Sudan (1987 SIL). Population is total for both Sudan and South Sudan. 2,000 Yulu, 1,000 Binga.

8a (Moribund)

Banda, West Central

[bbp] 8a (Moribund). 3,000 in South Sudan (1982). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Indri

[idr] 8a (Moribund). 700 (Dimmendaal and Voeltz 2007).

Njalgulgule

[njl] 8a (Moribund). 900 (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Aja

[aja] 8b (Nearly extinct). 200 (1993 SIL).

Mangayat

[myj] 8b (Nearly extinct). 400 (1987 SIL). No monolinguals.

9 (Dormant)

Boguru

[bqu] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in South Sudan. Last speaker in South Sudan died in 2011 (2011 A. Persson). Ethnic population: 500.

10 (Extinct)

Homa

[hom] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last speaker died by 1975.

Mittu

[mwu] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker survived into the 1940s.

Togoyo

[tgy] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker probably died in the mid 1980s.

South Sudan

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