The Map

Data from Ethnologue © 2024 SIL International. Reproduction Prohibited


Population refers to the number of native speakers (L1 users). Some languages classified as endangered may have a population count of zero because there are no speakers for whom it is their first language.

Language Status (Vitality) indicates the health of a language. Institutional and Stable statuses denote that the language is considered alive, whereas Endangered signifies a precarious state, and Extinct indicates the language is no longer spoken and its associated ethnic identity has been lost. These distinctions are outlined by the Ethnologue website as follows:

Institutional: The language is used and supported by institutions beyond the home and local community.
Stable: While not supported by formal institutions, the language remains the primary means of communication within the home and community, with all children learning and using it.
Endangered: It is no longer the primary language learned and used by children.
Extinct: The language is no longer spoken, and its associated ethnic identity is no longer retained.