Skip to main content
Search form
Search
Ethnologue
World Languages
Development
Endangerment
Statistics
About
Benin
Print
Primary tabs
Country
Languages
Status
(active tab)
Maps
Expand All
Collapse All
1 (National)
French
[fra]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1990, Constitution, Article 1). 16,700 in Benin (Johnstone 1993).
3 (Wider communication)
Baatonum
[bba]
3 (Wider communication). 460,000 in Benin (1995 R. Jones). Population total all countries: 560,000.
Dendi
[ddn]
3 (Wider communication). 30,000 in Benin (1995 R. Jones). Population total all countries: 32,050.
Fon
[fon]
3 (Wider communication). 1,400,000 in Benin (2006). Population total all countries: 1,435,500.
Gen
[gej]
3 (Wider communication). 126,000 in Benin (2006).
Hausa
[hau]
3 (Wider communication). 800,000 in Benin (2006).
Tem
[kdh]
3 (Wider communication). 50,000 in Benin (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
Yoruba
[yor]
3 (Wider communication). 465,000 in Benin (Johnstone 1993).
5 (Developing)
Aja
[ajg]
5 (Developing). 360,000 in Benin (2006). Population total all countries: 512,300.
Anufo
[cko]
5 (Developing). 13,800 in Benin (2002 SIL).
Biali
[beh]
5 (Developing). 100,000 in Benin (2002). Population total all countries: 101,500.
Boko
[bqc]
5 (Developing). 96,000 in Benin (2012 R. Jones). 30% monolingual. Population total all countries: 146,000.
Ditammari
[tbz]
5 (Developing). 120,000 in Benin (2006). Population total all countries: 147,500.
Ede Idaca
[idd]
5 (Developing). 100,000 (2002 SIL).
Foodo
[fod]
5 (Developing). 24,500 in Benin (2002 SIL). Population total all countries: 25,500.
Fulfulde, Borgu
[fue]
5 (Developing). 280,000 in Benin (2002 SIL). Most monolinguals are in Borgou Department, Nikki Commune. Population total all countries: 328,200.
Fulfulde, Gorgal
[fuh]
5 (Developing). 30,000 in Benin.
Gbe, Saxwe
[sxw]
5 (Developing). 170,000 (2002 census).
Gourmanchéma
[gux]
5 (Developing). 62,000 in Benin (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
Gun
[guw]
5 (Developing). 320,000 in Benin (2006). Population total all countries: 579,000.
Ifè
[ife]
5 (Developing). 80,000 in Benin (1990 SIL).
Kabiyè
[kbp]
5 (Developing). 30,000 in Benin (Vanderaa 1991).
Lama
[las]
5 (Developing). 60,000 in Benin (2006).
Lukpa
[dop]
5 (Developing). 50,000 in Benin (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Population total all countries: 63,600.
Mbelime
[mql]
5 (Developing). 37,600 (Tchegnon and Guidibi 2006), increasing.
Miyobe
[soy]
5 (Developing). 7,000 in Benin (1991). Population total all countries: 8,700.
Mokole
[mkl]
5 (Developing). 65,500 (Vanderaa 1991), increasing.
Nateni
[ntm]
5 (Developing). 66,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
Ngangam
[gng]
5 (Developing). 20,000 in Benin (2002 SIL).
Waama
[wwa]
5 (Developing). 50,000 (2000 SIL).
Yom
[pil]
5 (Developing). 300,000 (2006 SIL). Almost no monolinguals. Ethnic population: 230,000 Yowa; 70,000 Tangma.
6a (Vigorous)
Aguna
[aug]
6a (Vigorous). 3,470 in Benin (1992 census).
Anii
[blo]
6a (Vigorous). 33,600 in Benin (2011 SIL), increasing. Population total all countries: 45,900.
Ede Cabe
[cbj]
6a (Vigorous). 80,000 (2006).
Ede Ica
[ica]
6a (Vigorous). 63,000 (2002 SIL).
Ede Ije
[ijj]
6a (Vigorous). 50,000 (2000 SIL).
Ede Nago, Kura
[nqk]
6a (Vigorous). 25,000 (2002 SIL).
Gbe, Ayizo
[ayb]
6a (Vigorous). 227,000 (2006).
Gbe, Ci
[cib]
6a (Vigorous). 25,000 (2002 SIL).
Gbe, Defi
[gbh]
6a (Vigorous). 13,500 (2002 SIL).
Gbe, Eastern Xwla
[gbx]
6a (Vigorous). 80,000 (2002 SIL).
Gbe, Gbesi
[gbs]
6a (Vigorous). 65,000 (2002 SIL).
Gbe, Kotafon
[kqk]
6a (Vigorous). 100,000 (2002 SIL).
Gbe, Maxi
[mxl]
6a (Vigorous). 66,000 in Benin (Johnstone 1993). Population total all countries: 91,300.
Gbe, Tofin
[tfi]
6a (Vigorous). 66,000 (2006).
Gbe, Waci
[wci]
6a (Vigorous). 110,000 in Benin (Johnstone 1993).
Gbe, Weme
[wem]
6a (Vigorous). 60,000 (Vanderaa 1991).
Gbe, Western Xwla
[xwl]
6a (Vigorous). 50,000 in Benin (2002 SIL). Population total all countries: 71,000.
Gbe, Xwela
[xwe]
6a (Vigorous). 65,000 (2002 SIL).
Kyanga
[tye]
6a (Vigorous). 1,000 in Benin (1995 R. Jones).
Nago, Northern
[xkb]
6a (Vigorous). 30,000 in Benin (2002 SIL). Population total all countries: 70,000.
Nago, Southern
[nqg]
6a (Vigorous). 200,000 (2002 SIL).
6b (Threatened)
Notre
[bly]
6b (Threatened). 1,500 (2002 SIL).
8a (Moribund)
Tchumbuli
[bqa]
8a (Moribund). 2,500 (2000 SIL).