Tanzania

Swahili

[swh] 1 (National). De facto national language. 47,000,000 in Tanzania, all users. L1 users: 15,000,000 in Tanzania (2012), increasing. L2 users: 32,000,000 (2015 D. Nurse). Total users in all countries: 71,416,500 (as L1: 16,056,500; as L2: 55,360,000).

3 (Wider communication)

English

[eng] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 2,609,600 in Tanzania, all users. L1 users: 9,600 in Tanzania (2021 Joshua Project). L2 users: 2,600,000 (2019).

5 (Dispersed)

Gujarati

[guj] 5 (Dispersed). 250,000 in Tanzania (Johnstone 1993).

Kamba

[kam] 5* (Dispersed). Ethnic population: 11,800 (2017 K. Legere).

5 (Developing)

Bena

[bez] 5 (Developing). 592,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Chingoni

[xnj] 5 (Developing). 258,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Datooga

[tcc] 5 (Developing). 161,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 23,000 Taturu.

Gogo

[gog] 5 (Developing). 1,080,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing. Includes 60,000 Nyambwa.

Haya

[hay] 5 (Developing). 1,940,000 (2016).

Iraqw

[irk] 5 (Developing). 603,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kagulu

[kki] 5 (Developing). 337,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kuria

[kuj] 5 (Developing). 424,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Total users in all countries: 738,000.

Langi

[lag] 5 (Developing). 371,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing. 38,000 monolinguals.

Machame

[jmc] 5 (Developing). 195,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing.

Makonde

[kde] 5 (Developing). 1,470,000 in Tanzania (2016). Total users in all countries: 1,995,000.

Malila

[mgq] 5 (Developing). 78,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ndali

[ndh] 5 (Developing). 193,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing. Total users in all countries: 263,000.

Nyakyusa-Ngonde

[nyy] 5 (Developing). 1,210,000 in Tanzania (2016), increasing. Total users in all countries: 1,359,000.

Nyiha, Tanzania

[nih] 5 (Developing). 276,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing. Total users in all countries: 632,000.

Safwa

[sbk] 5 (Developing). 322,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing. Includes 22,000 Songwe.

Sandawe

[sad] 5 (Developing). 60,000 (Brenzinger 2013b).

Sukuma

[suk] 5 (Developing). 8,130,000 (2016), increasing.

Tanzanian Sign Language

[tza] 5 (Developing). 290,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 175,000–350,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population. Another estimate: 278,000 deaf signers (2008 WFD).

Vidunda

[vid] 5 (Developing). 12,000 (2016 P. Mkwan’hembo).

Vwanji

[wbi] 5 (Developing). 41,800 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Yao

[yao] 5 (Developing). 630,000 in Tanzania (2016).

6a (Vigorous)

Asu

[asa] 6a (Vigorous). 530,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). 25,000 monolinguals.

Benamanga

[egm] 6a* (Vigorous). 60,000 (2021 R. Bigwa).

Bende

[bdp] 6a (Vigorous). 41,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Bungu

[wun] 6a (Vigorous). 30,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Burunge

[bds] 6a (Vigorous). 28,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Ethnic population: 30,000 (Dimmendaal and Voeltz 2007).

Cutchi-Swahili

[ccl] 6a (Vigorous). 45,000 (Maho and Sands 2002).

Digo

[dig] 6a (Vigorous). 166,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Doe

[doe] 6a (Vigorous). 10,000 (2017 K. Legère).

Fipa

[fip] 6a (Vigorous). 713,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Gorowa

[gow] 6a (Vigorous). 113,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

[haq] 6a (Vigorous). 1,230,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Many monolinguals.

Hangaza

[han] 6a (Vigorous). 155,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ikizu

[ikz] 6a (Vigorous). 52,900 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 4,000 Shashi.

Jita

[jit] 6a (Vigorous). 365,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing.

Kabwa

[cwa] 6a (Vigorous). 14,000 (2011 SIL).

Kacchi

[kfr] 6a (Vigorous).

Kinga

[zga] 6a (Vigorous). 217,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kwaya

[kya] 6a (Vigorous). 100,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 26,000 Ruri. Ethnic population: 115,000. 70,000 Kwaya and 45,000 Ruri.

Luo

[luo] 6a (Vigorous). 185,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Maasai

[mas] 6a (Vigorous). 682,000 in Tanzania (2016).

Machinga

[mvw] 6a (Vigorous). 36,000 (1987).

Magoma

[gmx] 6a (Vigorous). 9,000 (2003 SIL).

Makhuwa-Meetto

[mgh] 6a (Vigorous). 577,000 in Tanzania (2016).

Mambwe-Lungu

[mgr] 6a (Vigorous). 6,680 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). 5,050 Mambwe and 1,630 Lungu (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Manda

[mgs] 6a (Vigorous). 43,100 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Matengo

[mgv] 6a (Vigorous). 271,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Matumbi

[mgw] 6a (Vigorous). 227,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Mochi

[old] 6a (Vigorous). 362,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 40,000 Uru dialect.

Mpoto

[mpa] 6a (Vigorous). 72,800 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Mwera

[mwe] 6a (Vigorous). 385,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ndendeule

[dne] 6a (Vigorous). 136,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ngindo

[nnq] 6a (Vigorous). 171,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ngoreme

[ngq] 6a (Vigorous). 52,400 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ngulu

[ngp] 6a (Vigorous). 215,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Nilamba

[nim] 6a (Vigorous). 682,000 (2016). 50,000 Iambi.

Nyambo

[now] 6a (Vigorous). 381,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Nyamwanga

[mwn] 6a (Vigorous). 141,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Nyamwezi

[nym] 6a (Vigorous). 1,470,000 (2016). 73% are in the traditional area.

Nyaturu

[rim] 6a (Vigorous). 892,000 (2016).

Nyika, Tanzania

[nkt] 6a (Vigorous). 25,000 (2007).

Pangwa

[pbr] 6a (Vigorous). 95,100 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Pimbwe

[piw] 6a (Vigorous). 64,600 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Pogolo

[poy] 6a (Vigorous). 201,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Rombo

[rof] 6a (Vigorous). 202,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Rufiji

[rui] 6a (Vigorous). 6,450 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ruwila

[rwl] 6a (Vigorous). 5,600 (2012 SIL).

Rwa

[rwk] 6a (Vigorous). 90,000 (1987). 50,000 Kihai.

Shambala

[ksb] 6a (Vigorous). 565,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Suba-Simbiti

[ssc] 6a (Vigorous). 113,000 (2011). Spoken by 6 ethnic groups in Tarime District: Hacha (4,200), Kine (14,500), Surwa (4,200), Sweta (12,800) and Simbiti (33,000), and Kiroba (30,000).

Sumbwa

[suw] 6a (Vigorous). 361,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Temi

[soz] 6a (Vigorous). 24,600 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Ethnic population: 30,000.

Vinza

[vin] 6a (Vigorous). 10,000 (1987).

Vunjo

[vun] 6a (Vigorous). 14,200 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing.

Zanaki

[zak] 6a (Vigorous). 97,400 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

6b (Threatened)

Alagwa

[wbj] 6b (Threatened). 53,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Bondei

[bou] 6b* (Threatened). 122,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Gusii

[guz] 6b (Threatened). 1,470 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Hadza

[hts] 6b (Threatened). 1,000 (2017 K. Miller), decreasing. Ethnic population: 1,200 (2017 K. Miller).

Hehe

[heh] 6b (Threatened). 1,210,000 (2016), decreasing.

Ikoma-Nata-Isenye

[ntk] 6b (Threatened). 34,700 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). 19,400 Ikoma, 7,100 Nata, 8,200 Isenye (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Isanzu

[isn] 6b* (Threatened). 26,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kahe

[hka] 6b (Threatened). 9,130 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kerewe

[ked] 6b (Threatened). 241,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kimbu

[kiv] 6b* (Threatened). 62,700 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing.

Kisi

[kiz] 6b (Threatened). 11,000 (2012 SIL). Ethnic population: 15,000 (2012 SIL).

Konongo

[kcz] 6b (Threatened). 51,000 (1987).

Kutu

[kdc] 6b* (Threatened). 27,500 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Kwere

[cwe] 6b* (Threatened). 152,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Lambya

[lai] 6b* (Threatened). 30,400 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Luguru

[ruf] 6b (Threatened). 404,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Maraba

[ymk] 6b* (Threatened). 97,700 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Mbugwe

[mgz] 6b (Threatened). 37,200 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Mbunga

[mgy] 6b (Threatened). 11,600 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Mwera

[mjh] 6b (Threatened). 6,000 (2004).

Ndamba

[ndj] 6b* (Threatened). 196,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ndengereko

[ndg] 6b* (Threatened). 72,000 (Ström 2013).

Ndonde Hamba

[njd] 6b (Threatened). 2,460 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Ndwewe

[nww] 6b (Threatened). 4,360 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Ethnic population: 30,000 (2021 R.S. Bigwa).

Rungwa

[rnw] 6b (Threatened). 18,000 (1987).

Sagala

[sbm] 6b* (Threatened). 111,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 4,000 Kwiva.

Sangu

[sbp] 6b (Threatened). 119,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing.

Shubi

[suj] 6b* (Threatened). 92,400 (2016 SIL).

Subi

[xsj] 6b (Threatened). 105,000 (2016 SIL).

Tongwe

[tny] 6b (Threatened). 37,700 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Wanda

[wbh] 6b (Threatened). 180 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Zaramo

[zaj] 6b (Threatened). 293,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 33,000 Nyagatwa. Ethnic population: 657,000 (2000).

Zigula

[ziw] 6b (Threatened). 442,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Zinza

[zin] 6b (Threatened). 205,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing. Includes 18,000 Longo.

7 (Shifting)

Akie

[oki] 7 (Shifting). 250 in Tanzania (2016 K. Legere). Another 250 semi-speakers.

Bembe

[bmb] 7 (Shifting). 22,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Dhaiso

[dhs] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 (1999).

Kami

[kcu] 7 (Shifting). 5,520 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing.

Kara

[reg] 7 (Shifting). 115,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing.

Kisankasa

[kqh] 7 (Shifting). 4,670 (1987).

Logooli

[rag] 7 (Shifting). 300 in Tanzania (2005 SIL).

Mbugu

[mhd] 7 (Shifting). 7,000 (1997). Ethnic population: 32,000.

Nindi

[nxi] 7 (Shifting). 5,690 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

8a (Moribund)

Gweno

[gwe] 8a (Moribund). Ethnic population: 2,500.

Segeju

[seg] 8a (Moribund). 23,200 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing. Ethnic population: 15,000.

9 (Dormant)

Aasáx

[aas] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers (Petrollino and Mous 2010). A few elderly rememberers (Petrollino and Mous 2010). The last fluent speaker most likely survived into the first decade of the 2000s.

Arabic, Omani Spoken

[acx] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in Tanzania. Ethnic population: 195,000 (Johnstone 1993).

9 (Second language only)

Arabic, Standard

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

10 (Extinct)

Kw’adza

[wka] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speakers probably died in the 1980s (Sommer 1992).

Ngasa

[nsg] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. 15 semi-speakers in 2003 (Legère 2012).

Unestablished

Rundi

[run] Unestablished. 246,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Tanzania

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