Guahibo

Primary tabs

Arauca, Casanare, Guainía, Guaviare, Meta, and Vichada departments: plains region, border areas.

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Venezuela

Language NameGuahibo

User Population

12,000 in Venezuela (Crevels 2012). 37% urban (2001 census). Ethnic population: 24,000 (2011 census).

Location

Amazonas, Apure, and Bolívar states; Upper Orinoco and Meta rivers, Orinoco river from Caicaro de Orinoco.

Alternate Names

Guajibo, Hivi, Hiwi, Jivi, Jiwi, Sikuani, Sikwani, Wahibo

Language Status

6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2008, Indigenous Languages Law, Article 4).

Language Use

1,760 do not speak Guahibo.

Other Comments

Dispute about whether Guahiban languages are in the Arawakan language family.