Saudi Arabia

Summary

Official Name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Population: 35,845,000
Principal Languages: Najdi Spoken Arabic, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate: 95% (2017 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CSICH (2012), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Bateson 1967, Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Holes 1990, Ingham 1994, Johnstone 1967, Kaye 1987
Deaf Population: 100,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Saudi Arabia is 9. All are living languages. Of these, 6 are indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 4 are vigorous, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 31 unestablished languages and 1 macrolanguage.

Languages

Arabic ara: Users: Population total all languages (L1 only): 364,760,090. Status:
Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 2,900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2017 Egypt Independent), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Gulf Spoken afb: Eastern Province and Najran region: southeast Kuwait border inland, east to Persian Gulf north of Al Damman; south, Yeman and Oman borders. Users: 962,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Gulf Spoken Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Hijazi Spoken acw: ‘Asir, Bahah, Jizan, Madinah, Makkah, and Tabuk provinces; entire Red Sea coast and inland. Users: 10,300,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 10,792,400. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Hejazi Arabic, West Arabian Colloquial Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Najdi Spoken ars: Widespread, especially interior areas; includes Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Qasim, and Ha’il provinces; Al Madinah al Munawwarah province: Ta’if area and east; Ash Sharqiyah province north; Ar Riyad province: all but southeast; ’Asir and Najran provinces: south and west; Jizan province: small border area; Tabuk province: northeast. Users: 14,600,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 18,156,010. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Widely spoken in Saudi Arabia in the 7th century with the development of nomadism. Used in religion, trade, and among Bedouin tribes. Alternate Names: Najdi Autonym: نجدي‎ (Najdi) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Omani Spoken acx: Users: 132,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Sanaani Spoken ayn: Scattered. Users: 264,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp: Scattered. Users: 415,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 24,900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2014 SIL), all users. Total users in all countries: 273,989,700. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Basic Law, Article 1). Alternate Names: Al-’Arabiyya, Literary Arabic Autonym: العربية‎ (al-ʻArabīyah) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Sudanese Spoken apd: Users: 163,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq: Scattered. Users: 381,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Balochi, Southern bcc: Users: 16,700 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
Bengali ben: Users: 2,265,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020 Anadolu Agency). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 132,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 101,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Faifi fif: Jizan region: Jebel Faifa. Users: 50,000 (2009 A. Alfaifi). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Al-fayfiyah, Al-fifiyah, Fifi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central
French fra: Users: 33,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Hindi hin: Widespread. Users: 817,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Indonesian ind: Users: 99,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Jibbali shv: Scattered. Users: 40,200 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Shehri Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Kabardian kbd: Users: 26,500 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian
Korean kor: Users: 173,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Mehri gdq: Eastern Province, Najran, and Riyadh regions. Users: 20,000 in Saudi Arabia (2012 Al Arabiya). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Nepali npi: Users: 234,000 in Saudi Arabia (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
Pashto, Northern pbu: Users: 197,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 232,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Punjabi, Eastern pan: Users: 307,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Punjabi, Western pnb: Users: 1,052,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi, Western Panjabi
Rohingya rhg: Users: 500,000 in Saudi Arabia (2017 The Arakan Project), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Saraiki skr: Users: 210,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi, Western Panjabi
Saudi Arabian Sign Language sdl: Scattered. Users: 100,000 (2008 WFD). About 0.3% of total population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Sindhi snd: Users: 251,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
Somali som: Users: 69,600 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Swahili swh: Users: 395,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
Tagalog tgl: Users: 929,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tamil tam: Users: 433,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Telugu tel: Users: 451,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Turkish tur: Users: 33,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Urdu urd: Users: 930,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Uyghur uig: Users: 8,730 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Basic Law, Article 1). 24,900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2014 SIL), all users. Total users in all countries: 273,989,700.

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, Najdi Spoken

[ars] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Widely spoken in Saudi Arabia in the 7th century with the development of nomadism. Used in religion, trade, and among Bedouin tribes. 14,600,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 18,156,010.

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 101,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

6a (Vigorous)

Arabic, Gulf Spoken

[afb] 6a* (Vigorous). 962,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, Hijazi Spoken

[acw] 6a* (Vigorous). 10,300,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 10,792,400.

Faifi

[fif] 6a* (Vigorous). 50,000 (2009 A. Alfaifi).

Saudi Arabian Sign Language

[sdl] 6a* (Vigorous). 100,000 (2008 WFD). About 0.3% of total population.

6b (Threatened)

Jibbali

[shv] 6b* (Threatened). 40,200 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Mehri

[gdq] 6b* (Threatened). 20,000 in Saudi Arabia (2012 Al Arabiya).

Unestablished

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 2,900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2017 Egypt Independent), based on nationality.

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020), based on nationality.

Arabic, Omani Spoken

[acx] Unestablished. 132,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, Sanaani Spoken

[ayn] Unestablished. 264,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken

[ajp] Unestablished. 415,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, Sudanese Spoken

[apd] Unestablished. 163,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken

[acq] Unestablished. 381,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Balochi, Southern

[bcc] Unestablished. 16,700 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 2,265,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020 Anadolu Agency).

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 132,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

French

[fra] Unestablished. 33,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Hindi

[hin] Unestablished. 817,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019).

Indonesian

[ind] Unestablished. 99,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Kabardian

[kbd] Unestablished. 26,500 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 173,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Nepali

[npi] Unestablished. 234,000 in Saudi Arabia (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality.

Pashto, Northern

[pbu] Unestablished. 197,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020).

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 232,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Punjabi, Eastern

[pan] Unestablished. 307,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019).

Punjabi, Western

[pnb] Unestablished. 1,052,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020).

Rohingya

[rhg] Unestablished. 500,000 in Saudi Arabia (2017 The Arakan Project), based on nationality.

Saraiki

[skr] Unestablished. 210,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020).

Sindhi

[snd] Unestablished. 251,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020).

Somali

[som] Unestablished. 69,600 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Swahili

[swh] Unestablished. 395,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 929,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Tamil

[tam] Unestablished. 433,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019).

Telugu

[tel] Unestablished. 451,000 in Saudi Arabia (2019).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 33,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Urdu

[urd] Unestablished. 930,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020).

Uyghur

[uig] Unestablished. 8,730 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Maps

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Saudi Arabia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Saudi Arabia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Saudi Arabia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Saudi Arabia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Saudi Arabia in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Saudi Arabia ($149.95, 32 page PDF)

Saudi Arabia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action