Summary by language family

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The genetic classifications given in the language entries name 143 different language families (that is, top-level genetic groups). Six of these, each of which has at least 5% of the world’s languages, stand out as the major language families of the world. Together they account for nearly two-thirds of all languages and five-sixths of the world’s population. Table 5 summarizes the distribution of languages and their populations within these six families. The columns are as for table 1, with the addition of a final column listing the countries under which the main entries for the languages of that family are found.

In addition to the other 137 language families, the genetic classification scheme also includes special categories for constructed languages, creoles, deaf sign languages, language isolates, mixed languages, pidgins, and unclassified languages. Table 6 summarizes the distribution of languages and their populations for these other language families and special categories. In most cases the population as a percentage of the world population is negligible; a figure is shown in that column only when the value is at least one-hundredth of one percent. Together tables 5 and 6 account for all known living languages of the world.

Table 5. Major language families of the world

Language family Living languages Number of speakers Countries
Count Percent Total Percent Mean Median
Afro-Asiatic 369 5.16 596,000,799 8.16 1,615,178 23,000 Algeria, Bahrain, Cameroon, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Austronesian 1,225 17.13 326,328,877 4.47 266,391 3,850 Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, China, China–Taiwan, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Indonesia, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Thailand, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna
Indo-European 447 6.25 3,298,325,875 45.18 7,378,805 165,000 Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican State, Venezuela
Niger-Congo 1,536 21.48 600,492,965 8.23 390,946 31,805 Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Sino-Tibetan 456 6.38 1,402,832,025 19.22 3,076,386 15,000 Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam
Trans-New Guinea 476 6.66 3,860,453 0.05 8,110 1,730 East Timor, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Totals 4,509 63.05 6,227,840,994 85.31

Table 6. Other language families of the world

Language family Living languages Number of speakers Countries
Count Percent Total Percent Mean Median
0 0.00 3,040 Infinity NaN
Abkhaz-Adyghe 4 0.06 2,736,590 0.04 684,148 399,895 Georgia, Russian Federation
Algic 40 0.56 132,781 3,320 395 Canada, United States
Amto-Musan 2 0.03 720 360 360 Papua New Guinea
Andamanese 5 0.07 687 137 94 India
Arafundi 3 0.04 1,960 653 440 Papua New Guinea
Arai (Left May) 6 0.08 2,035 339 340 Papua New Guinea
Arauan 5 0.07 5,370 1,074 740 Brazil
Australian 205 2.87 37,077 181 7 Australia
Austro-Asiatic 167 2.34 125,219,195 1.72 749,816 12,300 Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Aymaran 3 0.04 1,677,840 0.02 559,280 213,000 Bolivia, Peru
Barbacoan 3 0.04 21,840 7,280 5,870 Colombia, Ecuador
Bayono-Awbono 2 0.03 400 200 200 Indonesia
Border 15 0.21 16,080 1,072 410 Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Bororoan 2 0.03 1,392 696 696 Brazil
Botocudoan 1 0.01 10 10 10 Brazil
Caddoan 5 0.07 45 9 10 United States
Cahuapanan 2 0.03 14,030 7,015 7,015 Peru
Cariban 29 0.41 90,464 3,119 950 Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
Central Solomons 4 0.06 15,070 3,768 2,145 Solomon Islands
Chapacuran 4 0.06 2,770 692 25 Bolivia, Brazil
Chibchan 20 0.28 301,860 15,093 2,900 Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
Chimakuan 1 0.01 0 0 0 United States
Chinookan 2 0.03 0 0 0 United States
Chipaya-Uru 2 0.03 1,800 900 900 Bolivia
Chocoan 7 0.10 114,402 16,343 5,510 Colombia, Panama
Chon 1 0.01 1 1 1 Argentina
Chukotko-Kamchatkan 5 0.07 6,875 1,375 80 Russian Federation
Chumashan 6 0.08 0 0 0 United States
Cochimí-Yuman 9 0.13 2,315 257 200 Mexico, United States
Constructed language 1 0.01 1,000 1,000 1,000 Poland
Coosan 1 0.01 0 0 0 United States
Creole 86 1.20 42,428,779 0.58 493,358 50,000 Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, China–Macao, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Congo, Curacao, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Réunion, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé e Príncipe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Uganda, United States, Vanuatu
Dravidian 84 1.17 256,013,360 3.51 3,047,778 24,900 India, Pakistan
East Bird’s Head-Sentani 8 0.11 71,730 8,966 5,875 Indonesia
East Geelvink Bay 12 0.17 8,005 667 300 Indonesia
East New Britain 7 0.10 28,350 4,050 2,000 Papua New Guinea
Eastern Trans-Fly 4 0.06 6,610 1,652 1,550 Australia, Papua New Guinea
Eskimo-Aleut 10 0.14 110,410 11,041 1,200 Canada, Greenland, Russian Federation, United States
Eyak-Athabaskan 41 0.57 201,071 4,904 65 Canada, United States
Fas 2 0.03 2,840 1,420 1,420 Papua New Guinea
Guajiboan 5 0.07 39,290 7,858 1,000 Colombia
Guaykuruan 4 0.06 39,440 9,860 3,135 Argentina, Brazil
Haida 2 0.03 13 6 6 Canada
Harákmbut 2 0.03 2,220 1,110 1,110 Peru
Hmong-Mien 39 0.55 9,770,690 0.13 250,531 61,000 China, Laos, Vietnam
Huavean 4 0.06 14,670 3,668 1,585 Mexico
Iroquoian 10 0.14 4,727 473 49 Canada, United States
Jabutian 2 0.03 40 20 20 Brazil
Japonic 12 0.17 126,484,320 1.73 10,540,360 5,000 Japan
Jean 14 0.20 56,060 4,004 1,235 Brazil
Jicaquean 1 0.01 300 300 300 Honduras
Jivaroan 4 0.06 113,840 28,460 26,250 Ecuador, Peru
Karajá 1 0.01 3,060 3,060 3,060 Brazil
Kartvelian 5 0.07 4,361,571 0.06 872,314 60,800 Georgia, Israel, Turkey
Katukinan 3 0.04 1,340 447 10 Brazil
Kaure 3 0.04 900 300 250 Indonesia
Kaweskaran 1 0.01 12 12 12 Chile
Keresan 2 0.03 10,670 5,335 5,335 United States
Khoe-Kwadi 12 0.17 363,007 30,251 1,735 Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
Kiowa-Tanoan 5 0.07 6,360 1,272 1,500 United States
Koreanic 2 0.03 81,726,660 1.12 40,863,330 40,863,330 South Korea
Kra-Dai 89 1.24 83,581,368 1.14 939,116 80,000 China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Kwomtari 3 0.04 3,050 1,017 800 Papua New Guinea
Kx’a 4 0.06 77,100 19,275 15,785 Angola, Botswana, Namibia
Lakes Plain 19 0.27 10,755 566 300 Indonesia
Language isolate 77 1.08 912,506 0.01 11,851 87 Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russian Federation, Spain, Tanzania, United States, Venezuela
Lencan 1 0.01 0 0 0 Honduras
Lower Mamberamo 2 0.03 800 400 400 Indonesia
Maiduan 3 0.04 0 0 0 United States
Maipurean 51 0.71 728,474 0.01 14,284 610 Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Honduras, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela
Mairasi 3 0.04 4,385 1,462 1,000 Indonesia
Mapudungu 2 0.03 258,410 129,205 258,410 Chile
Mascoyan 6 0.08 13,578 2,263 1,145 Paraguay
Matacoan 7 0.10 73,960 10,566 1,930 Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay
Maxakalian 2 0.03 1,270 635 635 Brazil
Mayan 31 0.43 6,549,238 0.09 211,266 62,120 Belize, Guatemala, Mexico
Maybrat 2 0.03 25,000 12,500 12,500 Indonesia
Misumalpan 4 0.06 152,050 38,012 4,525 Nicaragua
Miwok-Costanoan 8 0.11 15 2 0 United States
Mixe-Zoquean 17 0.24 176,374 10,375 8,000 Mexico
Mixed language 24 0.34 796,625 0.01 33,193 1,000 Armenia, Australia, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Micronesia, Niger, Norway, Philippines, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States
Mongol-Langam 3 0.04 1,200 400 300 Papua New Guinea
Mongolic 13 0.18 7,325,480 0.10 563,498 96,100 Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Russian Federation
Mosetenan 1 0.01 7,300 7,300 7,300 Bolivia
Muran 1 0.01 390 390 390 Brazil
Muskogean 6 0.08 15,215 2,536 370 United States
Nakh-Daghestanian 31 0.43 4,204,560 0.06 135,631 5,800 Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation
Nambikwara 6 0.08 1,035 172 6 Brazil
Nilo-Saharan 204 2.85 63,920,470 0.88 313,336 50,000 Algeria, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Nimboran 5 0.07 8,500 1,700 2,000 Indonesia
North Bougainville 4 0.06 26,100 6,525 5,500 Papua New Guinea
Otomanguean 178 2.49 1,731,155 0.02 9,726 4,200 Mexico, Nicaragua
Paezan 4 0.06 81,000 20,250 10,500 Colombia
Palaihnihan 2 0.03 10 5 5 United States
Panoan 22 0.31 48,697 2,214 499 Bolivia, Brazil, Peru
Pauwasi 5 0.07 3,880 776 230 Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Piawi 2 0.03 2,700 1,350 1,350 Papua New Guinea
Pidgin 13 0.18 113,000 8,692 0 Australia, India, Indonesia, Liberia, Nauru, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Suriname, United States, Zambia
Pomoan 7 0.10 47 7 0 United States
Puinavean 7 0.10 6,010 859 390 Brazil, Colombia
Quechuan 44 0.62 7,201,525 0.10 163,671 24,500 Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Ramu-Lower Sepik 32 0.45 79,720 2,491 1,450 Papua New Guinea
Sahaptian 5 0.07 225 45 25 United States
Salish 25 0.35 1,321 53 0 Canada, United States
Sálivan 3 0.04 16,206 5,402 1,336 Colombia, Venezuela
Senagi 2 0.03 2,700 1,350 1,350 Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Sepik 54 0.76 172,859 3,201 835 Papua New Guinea
Sign language 156 2.18 23,971,618 0.33 153,664 15,000 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, China–Hong Kong, China–Taiwan, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Siouan-Catawban 14 0.20 10,266 733 117 Canada, United States
Skou 10 0.14 7,971 797 640 Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Somahai 2 0.03 2,200 1,100 1,100 Indonesia
South Bougainville 9 0.13 83,950 9,328 3,000 Papua New Guinea
South-Central Papuan 22 0.31 15,747 716 385 Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Tacanan 6 0.08 2,982 497 355 Bolivia
Tarascan 2 0.03 225,100 112,550 112,550 Mexico
Tequistlatecan 2 0.03 3,480 1,740 1,740 Mexico
Tiniguan 1 0.01 1 1 1 Colombia
Tor-Kwerba 23 0.32 15,345 667 400 Indonesia
Torricelli 57 0.80 113,695 1,995 800 Papua New Guinea
Totonacan 12 0.17 282,120 23,510 3,135 Mexico
Tsimshian 3 0.04 1,360 453 350 Canada
Tucanoan 24 0.34 36,777 1,532 777 Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Tungusic 11 0.15 54,449 4,950 150 China, Russian Federation
Tupian 65 0.91 6,743,587 0.09 103,747 210 Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru
Turkic 39 0.55 187,256,945 2.56 4,801,460 311,200 Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Tuu 2 0.03 2,503 1,252 1,251 Botswana, South Africa
Unclassified 40 0.56 355,279 8,882 25 Australia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, Venezuela
Uralic 37 0.52 20,582,747 0.28 556,290 2,000 Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden
Uto-Aztecan 58 0.81 1,928,608 0.03 33,252 5,255 El Salvador, Mexico, United States
Wakashan 6 0.08 613 102 98 Canada, United States
West Papuan 23 0.32 269,425 11,714 3,310 Indonesia
Wintuan 2 0.03 2 1 1 United States
Witotoan 7 0.10 4,307 615 250 Colombia, Peru
Yaguan 1 0.01 5,300 5,300 5,300 Peru
Yanomaman 5 0.07 27,160 5,432 3,500 Brazil, Venezuela
Yele-West New Britain 3 0.04 7,830 2,610 2,000 Papua New Guinea
Yeniseian 1 0.01 210 210 210 Russian Federation
Yokutsan 1 0.01 50 50 50 United States
Yuat 5 0.07 6,860 1,372 1,250 Papua New Guinea
Yukaghir 2 0.03 740 370 370 Russian Federation
Yukian 2 0.03 0 0 0 United States
Zamucoan 2 0.03 6,650 3,325 3,325 Paraguay
Zaparoan 3 0.04 78 26 25 Ecuador, Peru
Totals 2,641 36.93 1,072,640,212 14.69