Afrikaans

A language of South Africa

Location

Widespread; fewer speakers in East Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Also spoken in:

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Australia

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

43,700 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Botswana

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

8,080 in Botswana (2015 UNSD).

Location

Central and Kgatleng districts: north of Limpopo river; Ghanzi and Kgalagadi districts: widespread; North West district along Namibian border; Southern district: small area southwest of Khakea; possibly Takatokwane area.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Spoken as L1 by Afrikaners (Ghanzi District) and by people of mixed racial background (Kweneng and Kgalagadi districts). Also use English [eng]. Also use Setswana [tsn]. Used as L2 by Kgalagadi [xkv].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 100% in Ghanzi district, 50% in Kgalagadi districts. Literacy rate in L2: 75% in Kweneng and Kgalagadi districts in Setswana [tsn], 50% in English [eng]; few use Tswana in Ghanzi District, most use English.

Other Comments

Christian.

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Canada

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

10,300 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Eswatini

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

14,000 in Eswatini (2019).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by people of Dutch descent from South Africa.

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Malawi

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

3,600 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by people of Dutch descent from South Africa.

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Namibia

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

127,000 in Namibia (2018).

Location

Hardap and Khomas regions.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2009, National Curriculum, Basic Education, Sections 4.1, 5.1, 5.5), Most commonly used as educational medium.

Language Use

Used by 25% of the population in Windhoek in their homes (1995 census). Used as L2 by Fwe [fwe], Hai|ǁom [hgm], Khwedam [xuu], Northwestern !Kung [vaj].

Language Development

Taught in primary schools through grade 3. Taught as subject in secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Former official status. Not known in the north, in Owambo tribes, and Kavango and Caprivi regions.

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Netherlands

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

14,500 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

27,400 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

11,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

23,000 in United States (2015 census).

Location

Alaska; Alabama; Arizona; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Indiana; and Idaho.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by people of Dutch descent from South Africa.

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Zambia

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

96,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Zimbabwe

Language NameAfrikaans

User Population

93,000 in Zimbabwe (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by immigrants from South Africa.

View other languages of Zimbabwe

Afrikaans

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A language of South Africa

Also spoken in:

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