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Ethnologue
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Eritrea
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Languages
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1 (National)
Arabic, Standard
[arb]
1 (National). De facto national language.
Tigrigna
[tir]
1 (National). De facto national language. 2,540,000 in Eritrea (2006), increasing.
3 (Wider communication)
English
[eng]
3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.
Italian
[ita]
3 (Wider communication). A few monolinguals.
4 (Educational)
Kunama
[kun]
4 (Educational). 187,000 in Eritrea (2006), increasing. 1,000 in Ilit, 600 in Odasa. Population total all countries: 194,430.
Tigré
[tig]
4 (Educational). 1,050,000 in Eritrea (2006), increasing.
5 (Developing)
Afar
[aar]
5 (Developing).
Arabic, Hijazi Spoken
[acw]
5 (Developing). 23,900 in Eritrea (2006).
Bedawiyet
[bej]
5 (Developing). 158,000 in Eritrea (2006). 20,000 Hadendoa (1970 J. Bendor-Samuel).
Bilen
[byn]
5 (Developing). 91,000 (2006).
Saho
[ssy]
5 (Developing). 191,000 in Eritrea (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 223,800.
6a (Vigorous)
Arabic, Sudanese Spoken
[apd]
6a (Vigorous). 100,000 in Eritrea.
Dahalik
[dlk]
6a (Vigorous). 2,500 (2012 J. McLaughlin).
Nara
[nrb]
6a (Vigorous). 81,400 (2006).
9 (Second language only)
Geez
[gez]
9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers in Eritrea.
