South Africa

Afrikaans

[afr] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Art 6(1)), has been designated, along with English, as an official language in all 9 provinces. 17,160,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 6,860,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), decreasing. L2 users: 10,300,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 17,631,780 (as L1: 7,331,780; as L2: 10,300,000).

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)), has been designated, along with Afrikaans, as an official language in all 9 provinces. 19,640,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 5,640,000 in South Africa (2019). L2 users: 14,000,000 (2019).

Ndebele

[nbl] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Mpumalunga province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 2,490,000, all users. L1 users: 1,090,000 (2011 census). L2 users: 1,400,000 (Webb 2002).

Setswana

[tsn] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Northern Cape and North West provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 11,770,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 4,070,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 7,700,000 (Webb 2002).

Sotho, Northern

[nso] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 13,720,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 4,620,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 9,100,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 13,731,000 (as L1: 4,631,000; as L2: 9,100,000).

Sotho, Southern

[sot] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng, East Cape, Free State, and North West provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 11,750,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 3,850,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 7,900,000 (Webb 2002).

Swati

[ssw] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Mpumalanga province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 3,700,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 1,300,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 2,400,000 (Webb 2002).

Tsonga

[tso] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Limpopo province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 5,680,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 2,280,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 3,400,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 10,003,500 (as L1: 6,603,500; as L2: 3,400,000).

Venda

[ven] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Limpopo province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 2,910,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 1,210,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 1,700,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 3,001,400 (as L1: 1,301,400; as L2: 1,700,000).

Xhosa

[xho] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, and Western Cape (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)), official language in 5 provinces. 19,150,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 8,150,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 11,000,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 19,216,300 (as L1: 8,216,300; as L2: 11,000,000).

Zulu

[zul] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). 27,300,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 11,600,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 15,700,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 27,804,600 (as L1: 12,104,600; as L2: 15,700,000).

4 (Educational)

Tamil

[tam] 4 (Educational). 32,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Ethnic population: 1,030,000 (2012 J. Leclerc).

5 (Dispersed)

Hindi

[hin] 5* (Dispersed). 463,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Khoekhoe

[naq] 5* (Dispersed). 2,000 in South Africa (Brenzinger 2013b).

Swahili

[swh] 5* (Dispersed). 2,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc).

Telugu

[tel] 5* (Dispersed). 4,900 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Urdu

[urd] 5* (Dispersed). 15,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 5* (Dispersed).

5 (Developing)

Tswa

[tsc] 5* (Developing). 20,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc).

South African Sign Language

[sfs] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1996, Constitution, Chapter 1, Section 6(5)(a)), although not an official language, it is recognized as a language to be promoted. 500,000 (Aarons and Akach 2002), all users. Estimated, including some hearing people. L1 users: 235,000 (2011 census). Approximately 0.4% of the total population. Other estimates vary widely: 12,100 (Van Cleve 1986); 400,000–500,000 (2008 WFD).

6a (Vigorous)

Birwa

[brl] 6a* (Vigorous).

Oorlams

[oor] 6a* (Vigorous). 32,000 (2006 J. Leclerc).

6b (Threatened)

Northwestern !Kung

[vaj] 6b* (Threatened). 4,570 in South Africa (Louw and van Schalkwyk 2019).

Ronga

[rng] 6b* (Threatened). 1,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Nǁng

[ngh] 8b (Nearly extinct). 3 (2021), decreasing. 1 speaker of N|u dialect and 2 speakers of ||Au dialect. Ethnic population: 500 (1998 N. Crawhall).

Xiri

[xii] 8b (Nearly extinct). 87 in South Africa (2000). Total users in all countries: 187.

9 (Dormant)

Korana

[kqz] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Last known speakers survived into the 1980s. Ethnic population: 10,000 (1972 D. Barrett, M. Hronek, G. Mambo et al.).

9 (Second language only)

Camtho

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

Flaaitaal

[fly] 9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community (Makhudu 2002).

Gail

[gic] 9 (Second language only). 20,000, all users. L1 users: No known L1 speakers. L2 users: 20,000. Ethnic population: No ethnic community.

Pidgin Bantu

[fng] 9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers in South Africa. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Total users in all countries: 5,100 (as L1: 0; as L2: 5,100).

10 (Extinct)

Lower Nossob

[nsb] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers in South Africa. Last known speaker died in 2015 (2018 UNESCO). Total users in all countries: none known.

Seroa

[kqu] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker died in the 1870s (Traill 2002).

‡Ungkue

[gku] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Probably extinct by late 20th century.

ǀXam

[xam] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speakers survived into the 1910s (Traill 1995).

ǁXegwi

[xeg] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker, Jopi Mabinda, died in 1988 (Traill 2002).

Unestablished

Angloromani

[rme] Unestablished. 7,900 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc).

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 60,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 300,000 in South Africa (2019), based on nationality.

Bhojpuri

[bho] Unestablished. 57,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 10,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc).

Chinese, Yue

[yue] Unestablished. 15,000 in South Africa (1993).

Dutch

[nld] Unestablished. 15,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

French

[fra] Unestablished. 11,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

German, Standard

[deu] Unestablished. 15,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 21,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Gujarati

[guj] Unestablished. 32,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 20,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Khwedam

[xuu] Unestablished. 1,760 in South Africa (Louw and van Schalkwyk 2019).

Morisyen

[mfe] Unestablished. 42,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 300,000 in South Africa (2010 Observatório da Emigração). Ethnic population: 1,850,000 (2020 Joshua Project).

Shona

[sna] Unestablished. 18,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc).

Somali

[som] Unestablished. 24,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

South Africa

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