Bantu languages
A branch of Southern Bantoid within Niger–Congo with 458 languages in this index, split into 5 branches; 60 sit directly under it.
Branches
Vitality of 449 rated members
Institutional · 53Stable · 282Endangered · 111Dormant or extinct · 3
12%63%25%
Languages — the 250 with most speakers
| Language | ISO | Countries | Speakers | Vitality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| swhKiswahilikiswahili | swh | +3 | 98.3 m | 1 · National |
| zulZuluisiZulu | zul | 27.8 m | 1 · National | |
| linLingalaLingála | lin | 20 m | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| xhoXhosaisiXhosa | xho | 19.2 m | 1 · National | |
| swaSwahiliKiswahili | swa | +10 | 15.4 m | |
| nyaChewaChilankhulo cha Chichewa | nya | +1 | 12 m | 3 · Wider Communication |
| kinKinyarwandaIkinyarwanda | kin | 9.8 m | 1 · National | |
| swcCongo Swahili | swc | 9.1 m | 2 · Provincial | |
| snaShonaChiShona | sna | +1 | 9 m | 3 · Wider Communication |
| runKirundiIkirundi | run | +1 | 8.8 m | 1 · National |
| vmwMakhuwa | vmw | 7.4 m | 5 · Developing | |
| tumTumbukaChiyowoyelo cha Chitumbuka | tum | +1 | 7 m | 4 · Educational |
| kikGikuyuGĩkũyũ | kik | 6.6 m | 5 · Developing | |
| luaLuba-KasaiTshiluba | lua | 6.3 m | 2 · Provincial | |
| sotSesothoseSotho | sot | 6 m | 1 · National | |
| umbUmbunduÚmbúndú | umb | 6 m | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| sukSukumaJìsùgǔmà | suk | 5.4 m | 5 · Developing | |
| lugLuganda | lug | 5.1 m | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| konKongokikongo | kon | 5 m | Safe | |
| tsnTswanaseTswana | tsn | +1 | 4.5 m | 1 · National |
| nsoNorthern SothoSepedi | nso | 4.1 m | 1 · National | |
| tsoTsonga | tso | +1 | 4 m | 1 · National |
| kamKamba | kam | 3.9 m | 4 · Educational | |
| bemBemba | bem | 3.6 m | 2 · Provincial | |
| cggKiga | cgg | 2.4 m | 4 · Educational | |
| nynRunyankole | nyn | 2.3 m | 4 · Educational | |
| sswSwazisiSwati | ssw | 2 m | 1 · National | |
| kdeMakonde | kde | 1.7 m | 5 · Developing | |
| ndeNorthern NdebeleSindebele | nde | 1.6 m | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| venVendatshiVenḓa | ven | 1.3 m | 1 · National | |
| toiTonga | toi | 1.3 m | 2 · Provincial | |
| tscTswa | tsc | 1.2 m | 5 · Developing | |
| haqHa | haq | 990,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| nymNyamwezi | nym | 980,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| bumBulu | bum | 860,000 | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| fanFang | fan | +2 | 858,000 | 3 · Wider Communication |
| ndoNdonga | ndo | 810,000 | 4 · Educational | |
| rngRonga | rng | 722,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| rufLuguru | ruf | 692,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| mgrMambwe-Lungu | mgr | 674,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| ksbShambala | ksb | 664,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| nblSouthern NdebeleIsiNdebele | nbl | 640,000 | 1 · National | |
| ragLogooli | rag | 618,300 | 4 · Educational | |
| kooKonjo | koo | 609,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| lozLozi | loz | +2 | 600,000 | 4 · Educational |
| ewoEwondo | ewo | 578,000 | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| asaPare | asa | 500,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| dugKiduruma | dug | 397,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| tapTabwa | tap | 382,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| ziwZigula | ziw | 355,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| ebuEmbu | ebu | 320,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| zdjNgazidja Comorian | zdj | 312,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| wniNdzwani Comorian | wni | 275,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| etoEton | eto | 250,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| kuaKwanyama | kua | 247,000 | 3 · Wider Communication | |
| herHereroOtsiherero | her | 237,000 | 4 · Educational | |
| basBasaa | bas | 230,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| fipFipa | fip | 195,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| thkTharaka | thk | 176,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| kdnKunda | kdn | 157,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| nkaNkoya | nka | 146,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| ngpNgulu | ngp | 132,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| pofPoke | pof | 130,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| ymkMakwe | ymk | 119,700 | 6b · Threatened | |
| fngFanagalo | fng | 100,000 | 9 · Second language only | |
| wmwMwaniKimwani | wmw | 100,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| kedKerewe | ked | 100,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| ntoNtomba | nto | 100,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| cweKwere | cwe | 98,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| auhAushi | auh | 95,200 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| sbmSagara | sbm | 79,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| jjrBankal | jjr | 75,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| mboMbo | mbo | 70,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| jgkGwak | jgk | 70,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| dbmDuguri | dbm | 65,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| ksfBafia | ksf | 60,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| kczKonongo | kcz | 51,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| mhwMbukushu | mhw | +1 | 49,710 | 6a · Vigorous |
| kdcKutu | kdc | 45,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| rwmAmba | rwm | 40,100 | 6b · Threatened | |
| bauMbat | bau | 40,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| ntkIkoma | ntk | 36,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| bazTunen | baz | 35,300 | ||
| tvuNen | tvu | 35,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| briKpwe | bri | 32,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| tnyTongwe | tny | 31,600 | 6b · Threatened | |
| wlcMwali Comorian | wlc | 28,700 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| bdpBende | bdp | 27,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| lelLele | lel | 26,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| bwcBwile | bwc | 24,800 | 6b · Threatened | |
| yeyYeyi | yey | 24,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| doeDoe | doe | 24,000 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| xmaMushungulu | xma | 23,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| dhmZemba | dhm | 22,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| bvbBube | bvb | 20,000 | 6b · Threatened | |
| kcuKami | kcu | 16,400 | 7 · Shifting | |
| swbMaore | swb | 15,200 | 5 · Developing | |
| vidVidunda | vid | 9,000 | 5 · Developing | |
| dovDombe | dov | 5,430 | 6a · Vigorous | |
| lnbMbalanhu | lnb | 200 | 6b · Threatened | |
| kmbKimbundu | kmb | 3 · Wider Communication | ||
| yaoYaochiYao | yao | 5 · Developing | ||
| lubLuba-KatangaKiluba | lub | 6b · Threatened | ||
| duaDuala | dua | 3 · Wider Communication | ||
| kckKalanga | kck | 5 · Developing | ||
| lunLunda | lun | 4 · Educational | ||
| nmgKwasio | nmg | 5 · Developing | ||
| xogSoga | xog | 5 · Developing | ||
| sehChibarwe | seh | 5 · Developing | ||
| luyLuhya | luy | |||
| kwnKwangali | kwn | 4 · Educational | ||
| merMeru | mer | 4 · Educational | ||
| myeMyene | mye | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| lolMongo | lol | 5 · Developing | ||
| hehHehe | heh | 5 · Developing | ||
| guzGusii | guz | |||
| abbBankon | abb | 6b · Threatened | ||
| axkAka | axk | 5 · Developing | ||
| bezBena | bez | 5 · Developing | ||
| gogGogo | gog | 5 · Developing | ||
| lueLuvale | lue | 2 · Provincial | ||
| nyoNyoro | nyo | 5 · Developing | ||
| bngBenga | bng | 6b · Threatened | ||
| bxgBangala | bxg | 3 · Wider Communication | ||
| nglLomwe | ngl | 5 · Developing | ||
| diuGciriku | diu | 4 · Educational | ||
| chwChuwabu | chw | 5 · Developing | ||
| davTaita | dav | 5 · Developing | ||
| cceChopi | cce | 5 · Developing | ||
| lagRangiKɨlaangi | lag | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| fweFwe | fwe | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| nnbNande | nnb | 5 · Developing | ||
| nyyNyakyusa | nyy | 5 · Developing | ||
| bkhKogo | bkh | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bniBangi | bni | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| nmqNambya | nmq | 4 · Educational | ||
| kkjKako | kkj | 5 · Developing | ||
| hayHaya | hay | 5 · Developing | ||
| bagTuki | bag | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| togTonga | tog | 5 · Developing | ||
| kujKuria | kuj | 5 · Developing | ||
| nyuNyungwe | nyu | 3 · Wider Communication | ||
| ndcNdau | ndc | 5 · Developing | ||
| xkvKgalagadi | xkv | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| nseNsenga | nse | 5 · Developing | ||
| lchLucazi | lch | 5 · Developing | ||
| mxcManyika | mxc | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| digDigo | dig | 5 · Developing | ||
| mckMbunda | mck | 5 · Developing | ||
| bkwBekwil | bkw | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bnmNoho | bnm | 6b · Threatened | ||
| yafYaka | yaf | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| pkbPokomo | pkb | 5 · Developing | ||
| rndRuund | rnd | 5 · Developing | ||
| ekoEkoti | eko | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| sopSonge | sop | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| hooHoloholo | hoo | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| kqnKaonde | kqn | 4 · Educational | ||
| bssKose | bss | 5 · Developing | ||
| puuPunu | puu | 5 · Developing | ||
| syiSeki | syi | 6b · Threatened | ||
| ykoYasa | yko | 5 · Developing | ||
| ngoNgoni | ngo | 5 · Developing | ||
| nsxNsongo | nsx | 5 · Developing | ||
| ttjTooro | ttj | 5 · Developing | ||
| leoLeti | leo | 7 · Shifting | ||
| tllTetela | tll | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| beqBeembe | beq | 5 · Developing | ||
| lynLuyana | lyn | 4 · Educational | ||
| bufBushong | buf | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bqzBakaka | bqz | 6b · Threatened | ||
| bxpBebil | bxp | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| dmxDema | dmx | 6b · Threatened | ||
| ozmNzime | ozm | 5 · Developing | ||
| mcpMakaa | mcp | 5 · Developing | ||
| mcxMpiemo | mcx | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| nzbNjebi | nzb | 5 · Developing | ||
| bafBaca | baf | 6b · Threatened | ||
| yasGunu | yas | 5 · Developing | ||
| nuiKombe | nui | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| ynsYansi | yns | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| myxMasaaba | myx | 5 · Developing | ||
| pbrPangwa | pbr | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| blvBolo | blv | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| gwrGwere | gwr | |||
| jitJita | jit | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| khyKele | khy | 5 · Developing | ||
| smdSama | smd | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| sbpSangu | sbp | 6b · Threatened | ||
| tohTonga | toh | 5 · Developing | ||
| yatYambeta | yat | 6b · Threatened | ||
| zajZaramo | zaj | 8a · Moribund | ||
| zinZinza | zin | 6b · Threatened | ||
| lujLuna | luj | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| yavYangben | yav | 6b · Threatened | ||
| lemMandi | lem | 5 · Developing | ||
| poyPogolo | poy | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bipBila | bip | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| hkeHunde | hke | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bxkBukusu | bxk | 4 · Educational | ||
| rofRombo | rof | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| gweGweno | gwe | 8a · Moribund | ||
| wbiVwanji | wbi | 5 · Developing | ||
| sngSanga | sng | 5 · Developing | ||
| buuBudu | buu | 5 · Developing | ||
| bbmBango | bbm | 6b · Threatened | ||
| btcBati | btc | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bebBebele | beb | 6b · Threatened | ||
| bmwBomwali | bmw | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bbiRombi | bbi | 6b · Threatened | ||
| brlBirwa | brl | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| mkkByep | mkk | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bmvBum | bmv | 5 · Developing | ||
| bzmLondo | bzm | 6b · Threatened | ||
| bwwBwa | bww | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| szvSuwu | szv | 6b · Threatened | ||
| vifVili | vif | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| mzdLimba | mzd | 6b · Threatened | ||
| njyNjem | njy | 5 · Developing | ||
| mdwMboshi | mdw | 6b · Threatened | ||
| mdtMbere | mdt | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| picPinji | pic | 6b · Threatened | ||
| swjSira | swj | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| soxSwo | sox | 6b · Threatened | ||
| snqSangu | snq | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| sktSakata | skt | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| kizKisi | kiz | 6b · Threatened | ||
| loqLobala | loq | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| kmwKomo | kmw | 6b · Threatened | ||
| sbsKuhane | sbs | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| mxgMbangala | mxg | 5 · Developing | ||
| flrFuliiru | flr | 5 · Developing | ||
| rimTuru | rim | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| yomYombe | yom | 5 · Developing | ||
| mxoMbowe | mxo | 6b · Threatened | ||
| lumLuimbi | lum | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| lonMalawi Lomwe | lon | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| ikzIkizu | ikz | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| khuNkhumbi | khu | 5 · Developing | ||
| looLombo | loo | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| kkiKagulu | kki | 5 · Developing | ||
| cohChonyi | coh | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bjaBudza | bja | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| ngcNgombe | ngc | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| kcvKete | kcv | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| suhSuba | suh | 5 · Developing | ||
| mgzMbugwe | mgz | 6b · Threatened | ||
| bnxBangubangu | bnx | 6a · Vigorous | ||
| bquGuru | bqu | 8b · Nearly Extinct | ||
| bwtBafaw-Balong | bwt | 6a · Vigorous |
250 languages · click a column to sort · source: Wikidata
208 more languages belong to Bantu; open a branch above to see them all.