Italian

A language of Italy

Also spoken in:

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Albania

Language NameItalian

User Population

7,870 in Albania (2017 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Argentina

Language NameItalian

User Population

1,120,000 in Argentina (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Language Development

Taught in some primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Three newspapers published and one radio station broadcast in Italian in Buenos Aires. Italian is widely taught in Argentina.

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Australia

Language NameItalian

User Population

272,000 in Australia (2016 census).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Italiano

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Taught as subject in some primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. During the early 20th century, European immigration was encouraged. Large numbers of Italian speakers were among those admitted. Italian remains as a heritage language.

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Austria

Language NameItalian

User Population

794,700 in Austria, all users. L1 users: 10,700 in Austria (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 784,000 (European Commission 2012).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Belgium

Language NameItalian

User Population

279,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Language NameItalian

User Population

3,600 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Brazil

Language NameItalian

User Population

39,300 in Brazil (2020 Registro Nacional Migratório no Brasil), based on nationality. Ethnic population: 22,000,000 (2020 S. Schwartzman).

Location

Scattered, in Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo.

Alternate Names

Italiano

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NameItalian

User Population

376,000 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Chile

Language NameItalian

User Population

38,000 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Croatia

Language NameItalian

User Population

618,600 in Croatia, all users. L1 users: 18,600 in Croatia (2011 census). L2 users: 600,000 (European Commission 2006). Ethnic population: 37,000 (2016 G. Patanè).

Location

Istria county: northwest near Slovenia border, along west coast, Istrian peninsula.

Alternate Names

Italiano, Talijanski

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Istria County (2003, Istrian Regional Statute, Article 6), per Italian bilateral treaty 1996.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Venetian [vec].

Language Development

Taught in some primary schools, as part of the minority education program.

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Czechia

Language NameItalian

User Population

1,420 in Czechia (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Denmark

Language NameItalian

User Population

9,000 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Eritrea

Language NameItalian

User Population

A few monolinguals.

Location

Maekel region: Asmara area.

Alternate Names

Italiano

Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

Elderly only. Shifted to Tigrigna [tir].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Finland

Language NameItalian

User Population

2,860 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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France

Language NameItalian

User Population

829,000 in France (2008 census).

Location

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions: Nice, Provence, and Savoy.

Alternate Names

Italiano, Italien

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use French [fra].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Germany

Language NameItalian

User Population

648,000 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Greece

Language NameItalian

User Population

7,700 in Greece (Leclerc 2020a), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ireland

Language NameItalian

User Population

2,210 in Ireland (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Israel

Language NameItalian

User Population

6,800 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Lebanon

Language NameItalian

User Population

6,520 in Lebanon (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Libya

Language NameItalian

User Population

30,300 in Libya (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Luxembourg

Language NameItalian

User Population

13,900 in Luxembourg (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Development

Taught as subject in secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Malta

Language NameItalian

User Population

263,000 in Malta, all users. L1 users: 1,000 in Malta (2018). L2 users: 262,000 (European Commission 2012).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Italiano

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Some learn it from television.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. An official language of Malta until 1936.

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Mexico

Language NameItalian

User Population

26,000 in Mexico (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Monaco

Language NameItalian

User Population

7,110 in Monaco (2014).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Italiano, Italien

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Montenegro

Language NameItalian

User Population

24,100 in Montenegro (2011 census), L2 users.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Netherlands

Language NameItalian

User Population

17,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameItalian

User Population

8,210 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Norway

Language NameItalian

User Population

5,400 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Panama

Language NameItalian

User Population

21,000 in Panama (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Poland

Language NameItalian

User Population

7,730 in Poland (2013 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Portugal

Language NameItalian

User Population

5,990 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Puerto Rico

Language NameItalian

User Population

1,400 in Puerto Rico (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Romania

Language NameItalian

User Population

1,412,950 in Romania, all users. L1 users: 2,950 in Romania (2011 census). L2 users: 1,410,000 (European Commission 2012). Ethnic population: 3,200 (2011 census).

Location

Timis county: historically in Transylvania region.

Alternate Names

Italiană, Italiano

Language Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2005, National Minority Status Law, Article 3(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Russian Federation

Language NameItalian

User Population

83,200 in Russian Federation (2012 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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San Marino

Language NameItalian

User Population

33,000 in San Marino (2020 Joshua Project).

Alternate Names

Italiano

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

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Serbia

Language NameItalian

User Population

2,600 in Serbia (Leclerc 2020c).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Slovenia

Language NameItalian

User Population

3,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Location

Izola and Piran municipalities.

Alternate Names

Italiano, Italijanski

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Venetian [vec].

Other Comments

Acknowledged as autochthonous communities and protected by the constitution.

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Somalia

Language NameItalian

User Population

6,500 in Somalia (2019).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Italiano, Talyaaniga

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Lost official status in 2012. It is used mostly by the elderly, government officials, and in educated circles. Adults only. Shifting to Somali [som]. Used as L2 by Somali [som].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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South Africa

Language NameItalian

User Population

20,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Spain

Language NameItalian

User Population

256,000 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Catalan [cat].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameItalian

User Population

11,200 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Switzerland

Language NameItalian

User Population

673,000 in Switzerland (2018 census).

Location

Graubünden and Ticino cantons.

Alternate Names

Italiano, Italienisch

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with French [fra] and Standard German [deu] on the federal level.

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools in Italian [ita] and Lombard (Ticino) [lmo] speaking areas.

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Tunisia

Language NameItalian

User Population

1,100 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameItalian

User Population

92,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameItalian

User Population

709,000 in United States (2015 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Uruguay

Language NameItalian

User Population

89,900 in Uruguay (2016).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Vatican State

Language NameItalian

User Population

330 in Vatican State (2013).

Alternate Names

Italiano

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Language Use

Although most individuals in the Vatican State are temporary residents, speaking the languages of their native countries as their L1, Italian serves as the vehicular language and most speak it as their L2.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Zambia

Language NameItalian

User Population

12,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Italian

Primary tabs

A language of Italy

Also spoken in:

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