Ethiopia

Amharic

[amh] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1994, Constitution, Art 5(2)), also statutory provincial language. 21,600,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 14,750,000 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 21,811,560.

2 (Provincial)

Afar

[aar] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Afar Region (1994, Constitution, Art 47). 1,280,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 906,000 monolinguals (1994 census). Population total all countries: 1,379,200.

Oromo, West Central

[gaz] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Oromia Region (1994, Constitution, Article 47(3)). 8,920,000 in Ethiopia (1994 census). 25,500,000 all Oromo speakers in Ethiopia (2007 census). Population total all countries: 8,922,200. Ethnic population: All ethnic Oromo are 30,000,000 in Ethiopia.

Somali

[som] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Somali Region (1994, Constitution, Article 47(3)). 4,610,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 2,880,000 monolinguals.

Tigrigna

[tir] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Tigray Region (1994, Constitution, Article 47(3)). 4,320,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 2,820,000 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 6,915,000.

3 (Wider communication)

Berta

[wti] 3 (Wider communication). 187,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census), increasing. 99,700 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 209,000. Ethnic population: 3,450 Fadashi.

English

[eng] 3 (Wider communication). 1,990 in Ethiopia (1994 census).

4 (Educational)

Alaba-K’abeena

[alw] 4 (Educational). 278,000 (2007 census). 111,000 monolinguals (1994 census). 234,000 Alaba, 52,700 K’abeena (2007 census).

Anuak

[anu] 4 (Educational). 88,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 34,300 monolinguals.

Awngi

[awn] 4 (Educational). 489,000 (2007 census), increasing. At least two-thirds monolingual. Ethnic population: 1,000,000.

Basketo

[bst] 4 (Educational). 92,600 (2007 census). 42,800 monolinguals.

Bench

[bcq] 4 (Educational). 347,000 (2007 census). 150,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 14,300 Mer (2007 census).

Borna

[bwo] 4 (Educational). 37,500 (2007 census). 140 Gamila; 2,280 L2 speakers including 45 Gamila; 18,600 monolinguals including 77 Gamila.

Dawro

[dwr] 4 (Educational). 543,000 (2007 census). 260,000 monolinguals.

Dizin

[mdx] 4 (Educational). 33,900 (2007 census), increasing. 17,600 monolinguals.

Ethiopian Sign Language

[eth] 4 (Educational). 1,000,000 (2005 ENAD).

Gamo

[gmv] 4 (Educational). 1,110,000 (2007 census), increasing. 600,000 monolinguals.

Gofa

[gof] 4 (Educational). 363,000 (2007 census), increasing. 190,000 monolinguals.

Gumuz

[guk] 4 (Educational). 179,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 88,200 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 219,000.

Kambaata

[ktb] 4 (Educational). 615,000 (2007 census). 330,000 monolinguals including 279,000 Kambaata, 51,600 Timbaro. Population includes 488,000 Kambaata, 82,800 Timbaro. Ethnic population: 98,600 Timbaro, 35,000 Donga (2007 census).

Koorete

[kqy] 4 (Educational). 157,000 (2007 census), increasing. 84,400 monolinguals (1994 census). Baiso [bsw] and Oromo [orm] are replacing Harro on Gidiccho Island (Dimmendaal and Voeltz 2007). Ethnic population: 136,000 (2006 Southern Region Population and Statistics Office).

Majang

[mpe] 4 (Educational). 18,500 (2007 census). 10,800 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 11,000 Mesengo (2007 census).

Me’en

[mym] 4 (Educational). 151,000 (2007 census), increasing. More than 95% monolingual. Ethnic population: 6,990 Bodi (2007 census).

Nuer

[nus] 4 (Educational). 151,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 61,640 monolinguals.

Shekkacho

[moy] 4 (Educational). 79,900 (2007 census). 36,500 monolinguals.

Sheko

[she] 4 (Educational). 38,400 (2007 census). 13,600 monolinguals (1994 census).

Sidamo

[sid] 4 (Educational). 2,980,000 (2007 census). 2,530,000 monolinguals.

Silt’e

[stv] 4 (Educational). 935,000 (2007 census).

Xamtanga

[xan] 4 (Educational). 213,000 (2007 census). 93,900 monolinguals.

Yemsa

[jnj] 4 (Educational). 92,200 (2007 census).

5 (Developing)

Aari

[aiw] 5 (Developing). 235,000 (2007). 129,000 monolinguals.

Burji

[bji] 5 (Developing). 46,400 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 29,300 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 70,100.

Daasanach

[dsh] 5 (Developing). 48,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 31,400 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 60,500.

Dirasha

[gdl] 5 (Developing). 65,300 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 90,000 (2005 SIL). 41,100 Gidole, 7,470 Kusumitta (2007 census).

Konso

[kxc] 5 (Developing). 242,000 (2007 census), increasing. 139,000 monolinguals.

Male

[mdy] 5 (Developing). 94,746 (2007 census). 40,660 monolinguals.

Mursi

[muz] 5 (Developing). 7,390 (2007 census). 3,160 monolinguals.

Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji

[gax] 5 (Developing). 3,630,000 in Ethiopia. 25,500,000 all Oromo speakers in Ethiopia (2007 census). Population total all countries: 3,949,400.

Sebat Bet Gurage

[sgw] 5 (Developing). 440000. Chaha 130,000, Gura 20,000, Muher 90,000, Gyeto 80,000, Ezha 120,000.

Suri

[suq] 5 (Developing). 26,900 (2007 census), increasing. 18,700 monolinguals.

Wolaytta

[wal] 5 (Developing). 1,710,000 (2007 census). 1,000,000 monolinguals.

Zaysete

[zay] 5 (Developing). 18,500 (2007 census). 3,000 monolinguals. 10,200 Zayse, 7,600 Zergulla.

6a (Vigorous)

Arbore

[arv] 6a (Vigorous). 7,210 (2007 census). 3,900 monolinguals (1994 census).

Baiso

[bsw] 6a (Vigorous). 5,480 (2007 census).

Bambassi

[myf] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 (1982 SIL).

Bussa

[dox] 6a (Vigorous). 19,700 (2007 census). 4,960 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 10,500 Mashola.

Chara

[cra] 6a (Vigorous). 13,087 (2007 census). 5,560 monolinguals.

Ganza

[gza] 6a (Vigorous). 400 in Ethiopia (2007).

Gawwada

[gwd] 6a (Vigorous). 68,600 (2007 census). 27,500 monolinguals.

Gayil

[gyl] 6a (Vigorous). 55,700 (2007 census).

Hamer-Banna

[amf] 6a (Vigorous). 74,400 (2007 census). 38,400 monolinguals (1994 census). Ethnic population: 46,500 Hamer, 27,000 Banna (2007 census).

Harari

[har] 6a (Vigorous). 25,800 (2007 census). 2,350 monolinguals. 20,000 in Addis Ababa, outside Harar City (Hetzron 1997:486).

Hozo

[hoz] 6a (Vigorous). 3,000 (1995 SIL).

Inor

[ior] 6a (Vigorous). 280,000. 50,000 Endegeny.

Kacipo-Balesi

[koe] 6a (Vigorous). 4,120 in Ethiopia (2000).

Kistane

[gru] 6a (Vigorous). 255,000 (1994 census). Ethnic population: 364,000 (1994 census) including 4,000 Gogot.

Komo

[xom] 6a (Vigorous). 8,530 in Ethiopia (2007 census).

Kwama

[kmq] 6a (Vigorous). 15,000 (1982 SIL).

Libido

[liq] 6a (Vigorous). 64,400 (2007 census). 14,700 monolinguals.

Melo

[mfx] 6a (Vigorous). 20,200 (1994 census). 13,700 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 20,200 (1994 census).

Mesqan

[mvz] 6a (Vigorous). 195,000 (2007 SIL). Ethnic population: 205,000 (Woreda Farmers’ Cooperatives Office).

Nyangatom

[nnj] 6a (Vigorous). 24,300 (2007 census). 13,800 monolinguals.

Opuuo

[lgn] 6a (Vigorous). 1,750 in Ethiopia (2007 census). Most are monolingual.

Oromo, Eastern

[hae] 6a (Vigorous). 4,530,000 (1994 census). 25,500,000 all Oromo speakers in Ethiopia (2007 census).

Oyda

[oyd] 6a (Vigorous). 36,900 (2007 census). 6,250 monolinguals.

Qimant

[ahg] 6a (Vigorous). 1,650 (1994 census). Ethnic population: 172,000 (1994 census).

Saho

[ssy] 6a (Vigorous). 32,800 in Ethiopia (2007 census).

Seze

[sze] 6a (Vigorous). 3,000 (1995 SIL).

Tsamai

[tsb] 6a (Vigorous). 18,000 (2007 census). 5,300 monolinguals.

Wolane

[wle] 6a (Vigorous).

6b (Threatened)

Argobba

[agj] 6b (Threatened). 43,700 (2007 census). 100 monolinguals.

Dime

[dim] 6b (Threatened). 574 (2007 census), decreasing.

Dorze

[doz] 6b (Threatened). 20,800 (1994 census). 9,910 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 29,000 (1994 census).

Gedeo

[drs] 6b (Threatened). 975,000 (2007 census). 439,000 monolinguals.

Hadiyya

[hdy] 6b (Threatened). 1,250,000 (2007 census). 595,000 monolinguals.

Kachama-Ganjule

[kcx] 6b (Threatened). 4,070 (1994 census). 1,000 monolinguals including 820 Kachama, 190 Ganjule. 2,680 Kachama, 1,390 Ganjule; 420 L2 speakers including 220 Kachama, 200 Ganjule. Ethnic population: 3,890 (1994 census) including 2,740 Kachama, 1,150 Ganjule.

Kafa

[kbr] 6b (Threatened). 834,000 (2007 census). 445,000 monolinguals (1994 census).

Karo

[kxh] 6b (Threatened). 1,480 (2007 census).

Kwegu

[xwg] 6b (Threatened). 1,640 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 2,630 Bacha (2007 census).

Shabo

[sbf] 6b (Threatened). 400 (2000 M. Brenzinger), decreasing. Ethnic population: 600 or more (2000).

Zay

[zwa] 6b (Threatened). 4,880 (1994 SIL), decreasing. Ethnic population: 4,880.

7 (Shifting)

Nayi

[noz] 7 (Shifting). 7,190 (2007 census). 1,140 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 12,000 (Dimmendaal and Voeltz 2007).

8a (Moribund)

Anfillo

[myo] 8a (Moribund). 500 (1990 SIL). Ethnic population: 1,000 (1990 SIL).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Murle

[mur] 8b (Nearly extinct). 1 in Ethiopia (2007 census). Ethnic population: 970.

Ongota

[bxe] 8b (Nearly extinct). 10 (2007 census). 3,400.

9 (Dormant)

Weyto

[woy] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: 1,630 of whom 1,500 (93%) speak Amharic as L1, others speak other L1s.

9 (Second language only)

Geez

[gez] 9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers in Ethiopia.

10 (Extinct)

Mesmes

[mys] 10 (Extinct). No remaining speakers.

Rer Bare

[rer] 10 (Extinct). No remaining speakers.

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Ethiopia

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