NE

Republic of Niger

Niger

Summary

Republic of Niger
25,131,000
French
35% (2018 UNESCO)
ACHPR (1987), CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
Applegate 1970, Bendor-Samuel and Hartell 1989, Nicolaï 1979, Nicolaï 1981, Nicolaï 1983, Sapir 1971, Vanderaa 1991
16,000
The number of established languages listed for Niger is 24. All are living languages. Of these, 20 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 10 are developing, 8 are vigorous, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.
Agadez area. Users: 10,000 in Niger (1998). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Tahoua region: Tchin-tabaraden department. Users: 26,400 in Niger (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Hasanya, Hassani, Maure, Mauri, Moor, Sulaka Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Agadez region: Bilma north from N’guigmi to Libya border; Diffa region; Zinder region: Goure department. Users: 12,900 in Niger (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Libyan Vernacular Arabic, Sulaimitian Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Diffa region: Lake Chad north shore. Users: 12,900 in Niger (2021). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Arabe Choa, Chadic Arabic, Shua Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread. Users: 7,800 in Niger (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2010, Constitution, Article 5), used in education. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 54,200 in Niger (2021). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Bambara Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Northeastern Manding, Bamana
Diffa region: N’guigmi department, east near Chadian border; Zinder region: Goure department. Users: 93,200 in Niger (2021). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Daza, Tebu, Teda-Daza, Toubou, Tubu Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Tebu
Dosso region: Boboye, Dosso, and Gaya departments. Users: 142,000 in Niger (2021). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Songhai, Southern
Users: 2,835,420 in Niger, all users. L1 users: 5,420 in Niger (2021). L2 users: 2,830,000 (2018). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Widespread. Users: 862,000 (2021). Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Fula, Fulani, Fulbe, Peul, Peulh Autonym: Fulfulde Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, East Central
Dosso region: Burkina Faso border east to Dogondoutchi area; group in Niamey region; Tillabéri region: central and west. Users: 1,240,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 2,440,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Fula, Fulani, Fulbe, Gorgal Fulfulde, Northeastern Burkina Faso Fulfulde, Peul, Peulh Autonym: Fulfulde, ڢُلْڢُلْدٜ‎ (Fulfulde) Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, East Central
Tillabéri region: Say department, Burkina Faso border, south of Niamey. Users: 77,900 in Niger (2021). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Goulimancema, Gourma, Gourmantche, Gulmancema, Gurma Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Gurma
Widespread. Users: 19,080,000 in Niger, all users. L1 users: 12,800,000 in Niger (2021). L2 users: 6,280,000 (2021). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2001, Language Law No. 2001-037), mainly used in education. The main trade language of Niger. Alternate Names: Haoussa, Hausawa, Haussa Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West, A, A.1
Users: 34,800 in Niger (2021). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Kanembou Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Kanuri
Agadez region: Bilma town area; southwest enclave. Users: 42,900 (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Bla Bla, Kanouri, Kanoury Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Kanuri
Zinder region; Diffa region: Diffa and Maine-soroa departments; Nigeria border area. Users: 720,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 920,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Kanouri, Kanoury, Kanuri, Kànòrí Autonym: Manga Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Kanuri
Diffa region: N’guigmi and neighboring villages. Users: 103,000 (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kanambu, Kanembu Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Kanuri
Diffa region: Banda area, west of Lake Chad, along Nigeria border. Users: 206,000 in Niger (2021). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Bornouans, Bornu, Central Kanuri, Kanouri, Kanoury, Kanuri, Kole, Sirata, “Beriberi” (pej.) Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Kanuri
Agadez region: Arlit and Tchirozerene departments; Tahoua region: southeast; northwest Zinder and north central Maradi regions. Users: 65,300 (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Igalan Classification: Mixed language, Songhay-Berber
Agadez region: north border area. Users: 36,500 in Niger (2021). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Tamachek, Tamachek’, Tamahaq, Tamashekin, Tamasheq, Tomachek, Touareg, Tourage, Tuareg Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Tamasheq, Northern
Agadez region: Tchirozerine department; Dosso region: Dogondoutchi department; northwest Maradi region; Tahoua and Tillabéri regions. Central Tahoua from Ingal to Mali border (eastern dialect); west, north and northwest of Niamey (western dialect). Users: 829,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 1,249,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Amazigh, Tahoua, Tahoua Tamajeq, Tamachek, Tamajaq, Tamashekin, Tamasheq, Tewellemet, Tomacheck, Touareg, Tourage, Tuareg Autonym: Təmajəq, تَمَاجِقْ‎ (tamāğiq), ⵜⵎⵌⵆ‎ (Tamajaq) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Tamasheq, Southern
Agadez region: Arlit and Tchirozerine departments; northwest Zinder and east, southeast Tahoua regions; Maradi region: Dakoro and Mayahi departments. Users: 481,000 (2021). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Amazigh, Tamachek, Tomacheck, Touareg, Tuareg Autonym: Tamajeq Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Tamasheq, Southern
Agadez region: In-Gall and Teguidda-In-Tessoumt. Users: 20,900 (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Ingelshi, Tassawaq Autonym: Ingalkoyyu’ Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Songhai, Northern
Agadez region: Bilma department; Diffa region: N’guigmi department. Users: 26,400 in Niger (2021). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Tebu, Teda, Teda-Daza, Tibbu, Toubou, Tubu, Tudaga Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Tebu
Tahoua region: Abalak department, Azawagh valley between Abalak, Shadwanka and Akoubounou south of the Aîr massif. Users: 2,000 (2017 I. Maddieson). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Chinsart, Tin Sert Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Zenaga
Users: 80,700 in Niger (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri
Dosso and Tillabéri regions; also Niamey. Users: 5,900,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 5,990,100. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Adzerma, Djerma, Dyabarma, Dyarma, Dyerma, Zabarma, Zarbarma, Zarmaci, Zerma Autonym: Zarma sanni, Zarmaciine Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Songhai, Southern
    [fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 2,835,420 in Niger, all users. L1 users: 5,420 in Niger (2021). L2 users: 2,830,000 (2018).
    [hau] 3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2001, Language Law No. 2001-037), mainly used in education. The main trade language of Niger. 19,080,000 in Niger, all users. L1 users: 12,800,000 in Niger (2021). L2 users: 6,280,000 (2021).
    [arb] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2010, Constitution, Article 5), used in education. 7,800 in Niger (2015 SIL), all users.
    [thz] 4 (Educational). 481,000 (2021).
    [dje] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 5,900,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 5,990,100.
    [shu] 5* (Dispersed). 12,900 in Niger (2021).
    [dzg] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 93,200 in Niger (2021).
    [ddn] 5* (Dispersed). 142,000 in Niger (2021).
    [knc] 5* (Dispersed). 206,000 in Niger (2021).
    [fuq] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 862,000 (2021).
    [fuh] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 1,240,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 2,440,000.
    [gux] 5* (Developing). 77,900 in Niger (2021).
    [kby] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 720,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 920,000.
    [ttq] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Constitution, Article 3). 829,000 in Niger (2021). Total users in all countries: 1,249,000.
    [aao] 6a* (Vigorous). 10,000 in Niger (1998).
    [mey] 6a* (Vigorous). 26,400 in Niger (2021).
    [ayl] 6a* (Vigorous). 12,900 in Niger (2021).
    [bms] 6a* (Vigorous). 42,900 (2021).
    [krt] 6a* (Vigorous). 103,000 (2021).
    [tda] 6a* (Vigorous). 65,300 (2021).
    [twq] 6a* (Vigorous). 20,900 (2021).
    [tuq] 6a* (Vigorous). 26,400 in Niger (2021).
    [thv] 6b* (Threatened). 36,500 in Niger (2021).
    [tez] 6b (Threatened). 2,000 (2017 I. Maddieson).
    [bam] Unestablished. 54,200 in Niger (2021).
    [kbl] Unestablished. 34,800 in Niger (2021).
    [yor] Unestablished. 80,700 in Niger (2021).
  • Niger

  • Language Vitality Profile

  • Language Status Profile

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    Digest of the languages of Niger ($149.95, 31 page PDF)