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KM

Union of the Comoros

Comoros

Summary

Official Name
Union of the Comoros
Population
870,000
General Remarks
Three islands associating together in federation: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli Island), and Ndzuwani (Anjouan Island)
Principal Languages
French
Literacy Rate
78% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions
ACHPR (1987), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References
Chagnoux and Haribou 1980, Chamanga and Gueunie 1967, Ottenheimer and Ottenheimer 1976
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Comoros is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 3 are developing, and 2 are vigorous. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.

Languages

Arabic, Standard arb
Widespread. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2001, Constitution, Article 1). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Comorian, Mwali wlc
Moheli Autonomous Island. Users: 41,000 in Comoros (2018). Total users in all countries: 42,500. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Statutory language of provincial identity in Moheli Island (2002, Constitution, Article 1). Alternate Names: Mohélien, Mwali, Shimwali Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.44)
Comorian, Ndzwani wni
Anjouan Autonomous Island. Users: 350,000 in Comoros (2018). Total users in all countries: 361,000. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Statutory language of provincial identity in Anjouan Island (2002, Constitution, Article 1). Alternate Names: Hinzua, Njuani Autonym: Shindzwani Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.44)
Comorian, Ngazidja zdj
Grande Comore Autonomous Island. Users: 400,000 in Comoros (2018). Total users in all countries: 412,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Grande Comore (2002, Constitution, Article 1). Alternate Names: Ngazidja, Ngazija, Shingazija Autonym: Shingazidja Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.44)
French fra
Users: 238,770 in Comoros, all users. L1 users: 1,770 in Comoros (2020). L2 users: 237,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2001, Constitution, Article 1). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Makhuwa vmw
Users: 13,600 in Comoros (2018). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Makua Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Makhuwa (P.31)
Malagasy plt
Scattered. Users: 2,000 in Comoros (2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Ambaniandro, Borizany, Fiteny Malagasy, Hova, Malagasy fiteny, Malgache Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, East, Malagasy
Swahili swh
Users: 1,000 in Comoros (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)

Languages by Status

    Arabic, Standard
    [arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2001, Constitution, Article 1).
    French
    [fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2001, Constitution, Article 1). 238,770 in Comoros, all users. L1 users: 1,770 in Comoros (2020). L2 users: 237,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).
    Malagasy
    [plt] 5* (Dispersed). 2,000 in Comoros (2018).
    Comorian, Ngazidja
    [zdj] 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Grande Comore (2002, Constitution, Article 1). 400,000 in Comoros (2018). Total users in all countries: 412,000.
    Makhuwa
    [vmw] 5* (Developing). 13,600 in Comoros (2018).
    Comorian, Mwali
    [wlc] 6a* (Vigorous). Statutory language of provincial identity in Moheli Island (2002, Constitution, Article 1). 41,000 in Comoros (2018). Total users in all countries: 42,500.
    Comorian, Ndzwani
    [wni] 6a* (Vigorous). Statutory language of provincial identity in Anjouan Island (2002, Constitution, Article 1). 350,000 in Comoros (2018). Total users in all countries: 361,000.
    Swahili
    [swh] Unestablished. 1,000 in Comoros (2018).

Maps

  • Comoros, Madagascar and Mayotte

Graphs

  • Language Vitality Profile

  • Language Status Profile

Resources

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    Digest of the languages of Comoros ($149.95, 21 page PDF)