Yoruba

A language of Nigeria

Location

Widespread, in southwest.

Also spoken in:

Expand All

Collapse All

Australia

Language NameYoruba

User Population

2,470 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Australia

Benin

Language NameYoruba

User Population

209,000 in Benin (2018).

Location

Widespread. Porto-Novo city, towns, and major villages.

Alternate Names

Yariba, Yooba, Yorouba, Yorùbá, Èdè Yorùbá

Dialects

Egba.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Boko [bqc], Defi Gbe [gbh], Ede Cabe [cbj], Ede Ica [ica], Ede Idaca [idd], Ede Ije [ijj], Mokole [mkl], Southern Nago [nqg], Tchumbuli [bqa], Yom [pil].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–30%. Taught as subject in primary schools in grades 1 and 2, in 5 schools (2014 SIL).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

View other languages of Benin

Canada

Language NameYoruba

User Population

9,090 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Canada

Côte d’Ivoire

Language NameYoruba

User Population

115,000 in Côte d’Ivoire (Leclerc 2017c).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Côte d’Ivoire

Ghana

Language NameYoruba

User Population

460,000 in Ghana (2017 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Ghana

Niger

Language NameYoruba

User Population

74,800 in Niger (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Niger

Sierra Leone

Language NameYoruba

User Population

6,300 in Sierra Leone (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Sierra Leone

Togo

Language NameYoruba

User Population

121,000 in Togo (2019).

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Ifè [ife].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Mostly merchants located in Lome and widespread in towns and villages.

View other languages of Togo

United Kingdom

Language NameYoruba

User Population

14,900 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United Kingdom

Yoruba

Primary tabs

A language of Nigeria

Also spoken in:

Browse by

25th Edition

Products

Related Sites