Standard

DJ

Republic of Djibouti

Djibouti

Summary

Official Name
Republic of Djibouti
Population
976,100
Principal Languages
French, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate
68% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions
ACHPR (1987), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References
Welmers 1971a
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Djibouti is 5. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 2 are developing, and 1 is vigorous. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Afar aar
Ali Sabieh region: southwest of regional capital; Arta region: southwest of Ghoubet Kharab; Dikhil, Obock, and Tadjoura regions; Red Sea coast. Users: 196,000 in Djibouti (2018). Ethnic population: 335,000 (2017). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Afaraf, Qafar, Qafar af, Qafaraf, ʿAfár af, “Danakil” (pej.) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Saho-Afar
Amharic amh
Users: 3,260 in Djibouti (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, South, Transversal, Amharic-Argobba
Arabic, Omani Spoken acx
Users: 77,200 in Djibouti (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb
Users: 40,100 in Djibouti (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 1). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq
Scattered. Users: 71,200 in Djibouti (2018). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Djibouti Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
French fra
Users: 508,500 in Djibouti, all users. L1 users: 20,500 in Djibouti (2019). L2 users: 488,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 1). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Somali som
Ali Sabieh, Arta, and Djibouti regions. Users: 585,000 in Djibouti (2018). Ethnic population: 524,000 (2014 World Factbook). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Af-Soomaali Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali

Languages by Status

    Arabic, Standard
    [arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 1). 40,100 in Djibouti (2015 SIL), all users.
    French
    [fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 1). 508,500 in Djibouti, all users. L1 users: 20,500 in Djibouti (2019). L2 users: 488,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).
    Afar
    [aar] 5* (Dispersed). 196,000 in Djibouti (2018). Ethnic population: 335,000 (2017).
    Somali
    [som] 5* (Dispersed). 585,000 in Djibouti (2018). Ethnic population: 524,000 (2014 World Factbook).
    Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken
    [acq] 6a* (Vigorous). 71,200 in Djibouti (2018).
    Amharic
    [amh] Unestablished. 3,260 in Djibouti (2018).
    Arabic, Omani Spoken
    [acx] Unestablished. 77,200 in Djibouti (2018).

Maps

  • Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia

Graphs

  • Language Vitality Profile

  • Language Status Profile

Resources

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