MQ
Department of Martinique
Martinique
Summary
- Official Name
- Department of Martinique
- Sovereignty Status
- Overseas department and integral part of France
- Population
- 375,000
- Principal Languages
- French
- Deaf Population
- 400–3,200
- Language Counts
- The number of established languages listed for Martinique is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 1 is indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 2 are vigorous, and 1 is dying.
Languages
- French fra
- Users: 303,000 in Martinique, all users. L1 users: 15,000 in Martinique (2021). L2 users: 288,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, French Constitution, Article 2). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
- French Sign Language fsl
- Scattered. Users: 1,100 in Martinique (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 750–1,500 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Another estimate: 400–3,200 (Parks and Williams 2011). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Lesser Antillean French Creole acf
- Widespread. Users: 361,000 in Martinique (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Kwéyòl, Patois, Patwa Classification: Creole, French based
- Tamil tam
- Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers in Martinique (2013). Ethnic population: 15,000 (Murugaiyan 2013). Status: 9 (Dormant). Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Languages by Status
French
[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, French Constitution, Article 2). 303,000 in Martinique, all users. L1 users: 15,000 in Martinique (2021). L2 users: 288,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).
French Sign Language
[fsl] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,100 in Martinique (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 750–1,500 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Another estimate: 400–3,200 (Parks and Williams 2011).
Lesser Antillean French Creole
[acf] 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of national identity. 361,000 in Martinique (2019).
Tamil
[tam] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in Martinique (2013). Ethnic population: 15,000 (Murugaiyan 2013).
Maps
Graphs
Language Vitality Profile

Full explanation
Language Status Profile

Full explanation
