Vanuatu

Bislama

[bis] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1980, Constitution, Article 3(1)). Most in the country understand and use it as lingua franca and as a symbol of national identity. Since 2012, Bislama has a significant role in formal education. 10,000 in Vanuatu (2011), increasing. Ethnic population: 95% Melanesian. Total users in all countries: 12,570.

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1980, Constitution, Article 3(1)). 126,000 in Vanuatu, all users. L1 users: 6,000 in Vanuatu (2019 World Factbook). L2 users: 120,000 (Crystal 2003a).

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1980, Constitution, Article 3(1)). 88,800 in Vanuatu, all users. L1 users: 1,800 in Vanuatu (2019). L2 users: 87,000 (2018).

3 (Wider communication)

Hano

[lml] 3 (Wider communication). 7,500 (2017 A. Gray).

4 (Educational)

Lakon

[lkn] 4 (Educational). 800 (2020 A. François).

5 (Developing)

Ambae, East

[omb] 5* (Developing). 5,000 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Ambae, West

[nnd] 5* (Developing). 8,700 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Ambrym, North

[mmg] 5* (Developing). 5,250 (2001 SIL).

Ambrym, Southeast

[tvk] 5* (Developing). 2,000 (Crowley 2002e).

Aneityum

[aty] 5* (Developing). 900 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Efate, North

[llp] 5* (Developing). 9,500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Futuna-Aniwa

[fut] 5* (Developing). 1,500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Lenakel

[tnl] 5* (Developing). 11,500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Mele-Fila

[mxe] 5* (Developing). 3,500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Paama

[pma] 5* (Developing). 6,000 (1996 SIL).

Tanna, North

[tnn] 5* (Developing). 5,000 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Tanna, Southwest

[nwi] 5* (Developing). 4,500 (2011 SIL), increasing.

Uripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin

[upv] 5* (Developing). 9,000 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). 1,380 Atchin, 3,450 Uripiv-Wala-Rano.

V’ënen Taut

[nmb] 5* (Developing). 3,350 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Apma

[app] 5 (Developing). 10,000 (2017 A. Gray). Latest published estimate: 7,800 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Efate, South

[erk] 5 (Developing). 6,000 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Population includes Eton [etn].

Kwamera

[tnk] 5 (Developing). 3,500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Lamenu

[lmu] 5 (Developing). 500 (Early 2002). Very few monolinguals.

Lewo

[lww] 5 (Developing). 2,200 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Only very elderly and very young are monolingual.

Malo

[mla] 5 (Developing). 4,000 (Lynch and Crowley 2001), increasing.

Maskelynes

[klv] 5 (Developing). 1,350 (Healey 2013), increasing. No monolinguals.

Port Vato

[ptv] 5 (Developing). 1,300 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

[sax] 5 (Developing). 4,000 (2017 A. Gray).

Tangoa

[tgp] 5 (Developing). 800 (2001 SIL).

6a (Vigorous)

Akei

[tsr] 6a* (Vigorous). 650 (Wurm and Hattori 1981).

Aulua

[aul] 6a (Vigorous). 750 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Avava

[tmb] 6a (Vigorous). 700 (Crowley 2006a).

Baetora

[btr] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,330 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Banam Bay

[vrt] 6a* (Vigorous). 900 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Butmas-Tur

[bnr] 6a* (Vigorous). 520 (1983 SIL).

Daakaka

[bpa] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,200 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Dorig

[wwo] 6a (Vigorous). 300 (2020 A. François).

Eton

[etn] 6a (Vigorous). 500 (1989 census).

Hiw

[hiw] 6a (Vigorous). 280 (François 2019).

Koro

[krf] 6a (Vigorous). 250 (2020 A. François).

Lelepa

[lpa] 6a (Vigorous). 500 (Lacrampe 2014).

Löyöp

[urr] 6a (Vigorous). 240 (2020 A. François).

Mae

[mme] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,000 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Marino

[mrb] 6a* (Vigorous). 500 (2008 A. Henri), increasing.

Mwerlap

[mrm] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,100 (2020 A. François).

Mwotlap

[mlv] 6a (Vigorous). 2,100 (2020 A. François), increasing.

Na’ahai

[mlx] 6a* (Vigorous). 600 (1983 SIL).

Namakura

[nmk] 6a* (Vigorous). 3,750 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Navut

[nsw] 6a* (Vigorous). 520 (1983 SIL).

Sakao

[sku] 6a (Vigorous). 2,000 (Crowley 2002b).

Sie

[erg] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,900 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Unua

[onu] 6a (Vigorous). 1,050 (Pearce 2015), increasing.

Vao

[vao] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,900 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Vera’a

[vra] 6a (Vigorous). 500 (2020 A. François).

Vurës

[msn] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,000 (Malau 2016).

6b (Threatened)

Amblong

[alm] 6b (Threatened). 150 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 220.

Axamb

[ahb] 6b (Threatened). 950 (2017 T. Rangelov).

Baki

[bki] 6b (Threatened). 350 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Few monolinguals, youngest and oldest.

Bierebo

[bnk] 6b (Threatened). 800 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 1,140.

Dixon Reef

[dix] 6b (Threatened). 50 (1982 SIL). Ethnic population: 60 (1982 SIL).

Emae

[mmw] 6b (Threatened). 400 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 570.

Fanbak

[fnb] 6b* (Threatened). 95 (2015 M. Franjieh). Ethnic population: 190 (2015 M. Franjieh).

Fortsenal

[frt] 6b (Threatened). 450 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 560.

Larevat

[lrv] 6b (Threatened). 680 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Lehali

[tql] 6b (Threatened). 200 (2020 A. François). Ethnic population: 350.

Letemboi

[nms] 6b (Threatened). 800 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 1,100 (2001).

Lo-Toga

[lht] 6b (Threatened). 580 (François 2019).

Lorediakarkar

[lnn] 6b (Threatened). 340 (2000). Ethnic population: 850.

Maewo, Central

[mwo] 6b (Threatened). 1,400 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 2,000 (2001).

Maii

[mmm] 6b (Threatened). 180 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 260 (2001).

Malua Bay

[mll] 6b (Threatened). 500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 715 (2001).

Merei

[lmb] 6b (Threatened). 400 (1997 J. Chung). Ethnic population: 570.

Morouas

[mrp] 6b (Threatened). 150 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 210.

Mota

[mtt] 6b (Threatened). 750 (2020 A. François). Ethnic population: 1,300.

Mpotovoro

[mvt] 6b (Threatened). 430 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 610.

Nahavaq

[sns] 6b (Threatened). 600 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 860.

Narango

[nrg] 6b (Threatened). 160 (Wurm and Hattori 1981). Ethnic population: 230.

Neve’ei

[vnm] 6b (Threatened). 500 (Musgrave 2007). Ethnic population: 710.

Neverver

[lgk] 6b (Threatened). 1,250 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Ninde

[mwi] 6b (Threatened). 1,100 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 1,600.

Nokuku

[nkk] 6b (Threatened). 160 (Wurm and Hattori 1981). Ethnic population: 400.

Nume

[tgs] 6b (Threatened). 700 (2020 A, François).

Piamatsina

[ptr] 6b (Threatened). 150 (Wurm and Hattori 1981). Ethnic population: 210.

Polonombauk

[plb] 6b (Threatened). 120 (Wurm 2007). Ethnic population: 550.

Repanbitip

[rpn] 6b (Threatened). 90 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 130.

Rerep

[pgk] 6b (Threatened). 380 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 540.

Roria

[rga] 6b (Threatened). 75 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 100.

Shark Bay

[ssv] 6b (Threatened). 450 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 1,130.

Tambotalo

[tls] 6b (Threatened). 50 (Wurm and Hattori 1981). Ethnic population: 70.

Tasmate

[tmt] 6b (Threatened). 150 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 210.

Tiale

[mnl] 6b (Threatened). 400 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 570.

Tolomako

[tlm] 6b (Threatened). 900 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 1,300.

Tutuba

[tmi] 6b (Threatened). 500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 1,250.

Valpei

[vlp] 6b (Threatened). 300 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 430.

Vunapu

[vnp] 6b (Threatened). 380 (1983 SIL). Ethnic population: 540.

Wailapa

[wlr] 6b (Threatened). 100 (Wurm and Hattori 1981). Ethnic population: 140.

Wusi

[wsi] 6b (Threatened). 300 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Ethnic population: 430.

7 (Shifting)

Bieria

[brj] 7 (Shifting). 70 (Early 2006), decreasing. Ethnic population: 100.

Mafea

[mkv] 7 (Shifting). 41, all users. L1 users: 32 (Guérin 2011). 21 semi-speakers (Guérin 2011). L2 users: 9 (Guérin 2011). Ethnic population: 150 (Guérin 2011).

Seke

[ske] 7 (Shifting). 300 (2011 K. Johnson). Ethnic population: 430.

Whitesands

[tnp] 7 (Shifting). 7,500 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Araki

[akr] 8b (Nearly extinct). 8 (2014 A. Francois).

Lemerig

[lrz] 8b (Nearly extinct). 2 (2020 A. François).

Litzlitz

[lzl] 8b (Nearly extinct). 15 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Lonwolwol

[crc] 8b (Nearly extinct). 6 (2014 Daily Post).

Maragus

[mrs] 8b (Nearly extinct). 15 (Crowley 2006b).

Nasarian

[nvh] 8b (Nearly extinct). 5 (Lynch and Crowley 2001).

Olrat

[olr] 8b (Nearly extinct). 3 (2020 A. François).

Port Sandwich

[psw] 8b (Nearly extinct). 750 (Crowley 2002d).

Ura

[uur] 8b (Nearly extinct). 6 (1998 T. Crowley).

9 (Dormant)

Sowa

[sww] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Last fluent speaker, Maurice Tabi, died in 2000.

10 (Extinct)

Aore

[aor] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker survived into the 1980s (1982 SIL).

Ifo

[iff] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last speaker, James Nalig, died in 1954.

Vanuatu

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