Africa: number of living languages by status 2021

As of 2021, there were over 2,000 living languages in Africa. Most of those - amounting to over 900 - were categorized as vigorous, meaning that they were used for face-to-face communication by all generations. In addition, 198 languages were used at institutional levels, while dying languages were 128 in number, as of the same year.

Number of living languages in Africa as of 2021, by status

Characteristic	Number of living languages
Institutional	198
Developing	531
Vigorous	907
In trouble	390
Dying	128

Loading statistic...

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Source

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

2021

More information

Region

Africa

Survey time period

2021

Supplementary notes

The release date is the date of access.

The source categorizes languages as follows:
- Institutional = The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Developing = These languages are in the initial stages of development (graphization, standardization, modernization). Literature in a standardized form is being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Vigorous = The language is used for face-to-face communication by all generations and the situation is sustainable.
- In trouble = Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language. Since parents are still able to use the language, it is not too late in theory to restore natural intergenerational transmission in the home.
- Dying = The child-bearing generation is no longer able to transmit the language to the next generation, since the only fluent users (if any remain) are above that age.

Citation formats