Zambia

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 1(3)). 3,215,300 in Zambia, all users. L1 users: 15,300 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 3,200,000 (2018).

2 (Provincial)

Bemba

[bem] 2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in North, Copperbelt, and Luapula provinces. Town Bemba is a widely used lingua franca in urban areas, with higher social status than other languages except English [eng], and is used for educational and administrative purposes. 3,810,000 in Zambia (2010 census), decreasing. 3,730,000 Bemba, 12,800 Chishinga, 37,900 Kabende, 15,000 Lunda, 1,680 Mukulu, 11,500 Unga (2010 census). Ethnic population: 2,890,000 (2010 census). 2,630,000 Bemba, 64,400 Chishinga, 45,000 Kabende, 119,000 Lunda, 5,130 Mukulu, 24,900 Unga (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 4,110,000.

Luvale

[lue] 2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Northwestern and Western provinces. 171,000 in Zambia (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 475,000.

Tonga

[toi] 2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Southern and Western provinces. 1,330,000 in Zambia (2010 census), increasing. 55,600 Toka-Leya, 1,270,000 Tonga (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 1,530,000.

3 (Wider communication)

Swahili, Congo

[swc] 3 (Wider communication). 43,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

4 (Educational)

Chichewa

[nya] 4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in Eastern, Central provinces. 2,180,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 500,000 Chewa, 40,000 Kunda 1,640,000 Nyanja (2010 census). Ethnic population: 1,060,000 (2010 census). 930,000 Chewa, 83,500 Kunda, 50,800 Nyanja (2010 census).

Kaonde

[kqn] 4 (Educational). 206,000 in Zambia (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 242,000.

Lozi

[loz] 4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in portions of Western and Southern provinces. 612,000 in Zambia (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 734,000.

Lunda

[lun] 4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in Northwest Province, Copperbelt. 225,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 214,000 Lunda, 10,900 Ndembu (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 403,000.

5 (Dispersed)

Afrikaans

[afr] 5* (Dispersed). 96,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Gujarati

[guj] 5* (Dispersed). 41,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Tumbuka

[tum] 5* (Dispersed). 366,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 79,500 Senga, 285,000 Tumbuka, 2,000 Yombe (2010 census).

5 (Developing)

Lala-Bisa

[leb] 5* (Developing). 353,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 750 Ambo, 112,000 Bisa, 201,000 Lala, 1,620 Luano, 37,700 Swaka (2010 census). Ethnic population: 590,000 (2010 census). 2,450 Ambo, 198,000 Bisa, 392,000 Lala (2010 census).

Lamba

[lam] 5* (Developing). 201,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 198,000 Lamba, 2,250 Lima (2010 census).

Luchazi

[lch] 5* (Developing). 29,600 in Zambia (2010 census).

Mambwe-Lungu

[mgr] 5* (Developing). 207,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 64,500 Lungu, 142,000 Mambwe (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 213,680.

Mbunda

[mck] 5* (Developing). 83,000 in Zambia (2010 census).

Nkoya

[nka] 5* (Developing). 36,200 (2010 census). 1,190 Mashasha, 35,000 Nkoya (2010 census).

Nyamwanga

[mwn] 5* (Developing). 140,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 135,000 Nyamwanga, 4,220 Tambo (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 281,000.

Nyiha

[nih] 5* (Developing). 356,000 in Zambia (Johnstone 1993).

Ila

[ilb] 5 (Developing). 82,900 (2010 census). Ethnic population: 97,400 (2010 census).

Lenje

[leh] 5 (Developing). 128,000 (2010 census).

Nsenga

[nse] 5 (Developing). 405,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 76,000 Ngoni, 329,000 Nsenga (2010 census). Ethnic population: 1,570,000 (2010 census). 503,000 Ngoni, 661,000 Nsenga (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 627,100.

Soli

[sby] 5 (Developing). 34,100 (2010 census).

Taabwa

[tap] 5 (Developing). 31,600 in Zambia (2010 census). 4,120 Shila, 27,500 Taabwa (2010 census).

Zambian Sign Language

[zsl] 5 (Developing). 14,400 (2008 WFD). 14,400 deaf signers out of 16,000 total deaf (2008 WFD), less than 0.1% of total population. Another estimate: 50,000–100,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL).

6a (Vigorous)

Aushi

[auh] 6a* (Vigorous). 100,000 in Zambia (2010 census).

Chokwe

[cjk] 6a (Vigorous). 17,700 in Zambia (2010 census). Ethnic population: 61,900 (2010 census).

Fwe

[fwe] 6a (Vigorous). 12,000 in Zambia (Gunnink 2018).

Kunda

[kdn] 6a (Vigorous). 6,760 in Zambia (2010 census). Ethnic population: 31,300 (2010 census).

Luyana

[lyn] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,880 in Zambia (2010 census). 1,000 Kwandi, 1,400 Kwangwa, 480 Luyana (2010 census).

Sala

[shq] 6a (Vigorous). 23,500 (2010 census).

6b (Threatened)

Bwile

[bwc] 6b (Threatened). 19,600 in Zambia (2010 census). Ethnic population: 55,600 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 32,000.

Kuhane

[sbs] 6b* (Threatened). 1,350 in Zambia (2010 census).

Lambya

[lai] 6b* (Threatened). 17,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Mashi

[mho] 6b* (Threatened). 18,800 in Zambia (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 21,730.

Mbowe

[mxo] 6b (Threatened). 460 (2010 census).

Mbukushu

[mhw] 6b (Threatened). 10,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Nyika

[nkv] 6b* (Threatened). 9,300 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Shona

[sna] 6b* (Threatened). 12,700 in Zambia (2010 census). Ethnic population: 21,900 (2010 census).

Simaa

[sie] 6b (Threatened). 16,700 in Zambia (2010 census). 1,980 Imilangu, 9,300 Koma, 2,870 Mwenyi, 2,530 Simaa. Ethnic population: 27,600 (2010 census). 3,630 Imilangu, 14,300 Koma, 4,600 Mwenyi, 5,000 Simaa (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 19,700.

Totela

[ttl] 6b* (Threatened). 1,120 (2010 census).

Yao

[yao] 6b* (Threatened). 200 families or more in the 1970s (F. Banda).

Yauma

[yax] 6b (Threatened). 12,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

7 (Shifting)

Khwedam

[xuu] 7 (Shifting). 200 in Zambia (Brenzinger 2013b).

9 (Second language only)

Pidgin Bantu

[fng] 9 (Second language only). 5,100 in Zambia, all users. L1 users: No known L1 speakers in Zambia. L2 users: 5,100 (2006). Ethnic population: No ethnic community.

Settla

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

Unestablished

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 48,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

French

[fra] Unestablished. 7,200 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 9,700 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 12,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Ndebele

[nde] Unestablished. 13,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 5,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Serbian

[srp] Unestablished. 4,800 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Zambia

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