Tanzania

Swahili

[swh] 1 (National). De facto national language. 15,000,000 in Tanzania (2012), increasing. Population total all countries: 15,457,390.

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 3 (Wider communication). No L1 speakers.

English

[eng] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

5 (Developing)

Bena

[bez] 5 (Developing). 670,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Datooga

[tcc] 5 (Developing). 87,800 (2000).

Gogo

[gog] 5 (Developing). 1,440,000 (2006), increasing.

Gujarati

[guj] 5 (Developing). 250,000 in Tanzania (Johnstone 1993).

Haya

[hay] 5 (Developing). 1,300,000 (2006).

Hehe

[heh] 5 (Developing). 805,000 (2006).

Iraqw

[irk] 5 (Developing). 462,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Kagulu

[kki] 5 (Developing). 241,000 (2006 M. Petzell).

Kuria

[kuj] 5 (Developing). 430,000 in Tanzania (2005 SIL). Population total all countries: 690,000.

Machame

[jmc] 5 (Developing). 300,000 (1992 UBS), increasing.

Makonde

[kde] 5 (Developing). 980,000 in Tanzania (2006). Population total all countries: 1,340,000.

Ngoni

[ngo] 5 (Developing). 170,000 in Tanzania (1987). Population total all countries: 223,000.

Nyakyusa-Ngonde

[nyy] 5 (Developing). 805,000 in Tanzania (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 1,105,000.

Nyiha, Tanzania

[nih] 5 (Developing). 306,000 in Tanzania (1987), increasing. Population total all countries: 662,000.

Sukuma

[suk] 5 (Developing). 5,430,000 (2006), increasing.

Tanzanian Sign Language

[tza] 5 (Developing).

Vwanji

[wbi] 5 (Developing). 28,000 (2003 SIL).

Yao

[yao] 5 (Developing). 420,000 in Tanzania (2006).

6a (Vigorous)

Asu

[asa] 6a (Vigorous). 500,000 (2000). 5% monolingual.

Bende

[bdp] 6a (Vigorous). 27,000 (1999).

Bungu

[wun] 6a (Vigorous). 36,000 (1987).

Burunge

[bds] 6a (Vigorous). 13,000 (2002). Ethnic population: 30,000 (Dimmendaal and Voeltz 2007).

Cutchi-Swahili

[ccl] 6a (Vigorous). 45,000 (Maho and Sands 2002).

Digo

[dig] 6a (Vigorous). 88,000 in Tanzania (1987).

Fipa

[fip] 6a (Vigorous). 195,000 in Tanzania (2002 census). About 140,000 speakers of Northern, 45,000 of Kwa, and 10,000 of Milanzi varieties.

Gorowa

[gow] 6a (Vigorous). 50,000 (1999 R. Kiessling).

[haq] 6a (Vigorous). 990,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Hangaza

[han] 6a (Vigorous). 150,000 (1987).

Ikizu

[ikz] 6a (Vigorous). 55,000 (2005 SIL).

Jita

[jit] 6a (Vigorous). 205,000 (2005 SIL), increasing.

Kachchi

[kfr] 6a (Vigorous).

Kerewe

[ked] 6a (Vigorous). 100,000 (1987).

Kinga

[zga] 6a (Vigorous). 140,000 (2003). 57,000 in Makete District.

Konongo

[kcz] 6a (Vigorous). 51,000 (1987).

Kwaya

[kya] 6a (Vigorous). 115,000 (2005 SIL). Ethnic population: 70,000 Kwaya and 45,000 Ruri.

Langi

[lag] 6a (Vigorous). 410,000 (2007 R. Cox), increasing. 38,000 monolinguals. Many ethnic Burunge (Chemba, Goima, and elsewhere) and some Alagwa (Kolo, Mnenya, and elsewhere) who are L1 Langi speakers.

Luguru

[ruf] 6a (Vigorous). 692,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Luo

[luo] 6a (Vigorous). 140,000 in Tanzania (2005 SIL).

Maasai

[mas] 6a (Vigorous). 455,000 in Tanzania (2006). 170,000 Arusa, 30,000 Baraguyu (1987).

Machinga

[mvw] 6a (Vigorous). 36,000 (1987).

Makhuwa-Meetto

[mgh] 6a (Vigorous). 385,000 in Tanzania (2006).

Malila

[mgq] 6a (Vigorous). 65,000 (2003 SIL).

Mambwe-Lungu

[mgr] 6a (Vigorous). 295,000 in Tanzania (2002 census). 230,000 ethnic Fipa speak Fipa-Mambwe Dialect. Ethnic population: 65,000 in Tanzania (2002 census).

Manda

[mgs] 6a (Vigorous). 22,000 (2002).

Matengo

[mgv] 6a (Vigorous). 150,000 (1987).

Matumbi

[mgw] 6a (Vigorous). 72,000 (1978 MARC).

Mochi

[old] 6a (Vigorous). 597,000 (2000).

Mpoto

[mpa] 6a (Vigorous). 80,000 (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

Mwera

[mwe] 6a (Vigorous). 469,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Ndali

[ndh] 6a (Vigorous). 150,000 in Tanzania (1987), increasing. Population total all countries: 220,000.

Ndendeule

[dne] 6a (Vigorous). 100,000 (2000 D. Ngonyani).

Ndengereko

[ndg] 6a (Vigorous). 110,000 (2000).

Ngindo

[nnq] 6a (Vigorous). 220,000 (1987).

Ngoreme

[ngq] 6a (Vigorous). 55,000 (2005 SIL).

Ngulu

[ngp] 6a (Vigorous). 132,000 (1987).

Nilamba

[nim] 6a (Vigorous). 455,000 (2006). 50,000 Iambi.

Nyambo

[now] 6a (Vigorous). 400,000 (2003).

Nyamwanga

[mwn] 6a (Vigorous). 87,000 in Tanzania (1987).

Nyamwezi

[nym] 6a (Vigorous). 980,000 (2006). 73% are in the traditional area.

Nyaturu

[rim] 6a (Vigorous). 595,000 (2006).

Nyika, Tanzania

[nkt] 6a (Vigorous). 25,000 (2007).

Pangwa

[pbr] 6a (Vigorous). 95,000 (2002).

Pimbwe

[piw] 6a (Vigorous). 29,000 (1987).

Pogolo

[poy] 6a (Vigorous). 185,000 (1987).

Rombo

[rof] 6a (Vigorous).

Rufiji

[rui] 6a (Vigorous). 200,000 (1987).

Rwa

[rwk] 6a (Vigorous). 90,000 (1987). 50,000 Kihai.

Safwa

[sbk] 6a (Vigorous). 158,000 (1987), increasing.

Sandawe

[sad] 6a (Vigorous). 40,000 (2000).

Shambala

[ksb] 6a (Vigorous). 664,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Suba-Simbiti

[ssc] 6a (Vigorous). 113,000 (2011). Spoken by 6 ethnic groups in Tarime District: Hacha (4,200), Kine (14,500), Surwa (4,200), Sweta (12,800) and Simbiti (33,000), and Kiroba (30,000).

Sumbwa

[suw] 6a (Vigorous). 191,000 (1987).

Temi

[soz] 6a (Vigorous). 30,000 (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 30,000.

Tongwe

[tny] 6a (Vigorous). 13,000 (2001). Ethnic population: 31,600 (2000).

Vinza

[vin] 6a (Vigorous). 10,000 (1987).

Vunjo

[vun] 6a (Vigorous). 300,000 (1992 UBS), increasing.

Zanaki

[zak] 6a (Vigorous). 100,000 (2005 SIL).

Zigula

[ziw] 6a (Vigorous). 355,000 (Johnstone 1993).

6b (Threatened)

Alagwa

[wbj] 6b (Threatened). 30,000 (Kiessling and Mous 2003).

Bondei

[bou] 6b (Threatened). 50,000 (2000 M. Brenzinger).

Doe

[doe] 6b (Threatened). 24,000 (1987).

Gusii

[guz] 6b (Threatened). 300 in Tanzania (2005 SIL).

Hadza

[hts] 6b (Threatened). 800 (2000 M. Brenzinger), decreasing. Ethnic population: 800.

Ikoma-Nata-Isenye

[ntk] 6b (Threatened). 36,000 (2005 SIL).

Isanzu

[isn] 6b (Threatened). 32,400 (1987).

Kabwa

[cwa] 6b (Threatened). 14,000 (2011).

Kahe

[hka] 6b (Threatened). 2,700 (1987).

Kimbu

[kiv] 6b (Threatened). 78,000 (1987), decreasing.

Kisi

[kiz] 6b (Threatened). 10,200 (2001). Ethnic population: 18,000.

Kutu

[kdc] 6b (Threatened). 45,000 (1987).

Kwere

[cwe] 6b (Threatened). 98,000 (1987).

Lambya

[lai] 6b (Threatened). 40,000 in Tanzania (1987).

Magoma

[gmx] 6b (Threatened). 9,000 (2003 SIL).

Maraba

[ymk] 6b (Threatened). 10,000 in Tanzania (2003).

Mbugwe

[mgz] 6b (Threatened). 24,000 (1999).

Mbunga

[mgy] 6b (Threatened). 29,000 (1987).

Mwera

[mjh] 6b (Threatened). 6,000 (2004).

Ndamba

[ndj] 6b (Threatened). 55,000 (1987).

Ndonde Hamba

[njd] 6b (Threatened). 10,000 (2002 PBT).

Rungwa

[rnw] 6b (Threatened). 18,000 (1987).

Sagala

[sbm] 6b (Threatened). 79,000 (1987).

Sangu

[sbp] 6b (Threatened). 75,000 (1987), decreasing.

Shubi

[suj] 6b (Threatened). 153,000 (1987).

Subi

[xsj] 6b (Threatened).

Vidunda

[vid] 6b (Threatened). 32,000 (1987).

Wanda

[wbh] 6b (Threatened). 24,000 (1987).

Zinza

[zin] 6b (Threatened). 138,000 (1987), decreasing.

7 (Shifting)

Bembe

[bmb] 7 (Shifting). Only a few Bembe in Tanzania.

Dhaiso

[dhs] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 (1999).

Kami

[kcu] 7 (Shifting). 16,400 (2000), decreasing.

Kara

[reg] 7 (Shifting). 86,000 (1987), decreasing.

Kisankasa

[kqh] 7 (Shifting). 4,670 (1987).

Logooli

[rag] 7 (Shifting). 300 in Tanzania (2005 SIL).

Mbugu

[mhd] 7 (Shifting). 7,000 (1997). Ethnic population: 32,000.

Mediak

[mwx] 7 (Shifting). 5,270 (2000).

Nindi

[nxi] 7 (Shifting). 100.

8a (Moribund)

Gweno

[gwe] 8a (Moribund). 2,200 (2006). Ethnic population: 2,000 or more.

Ngasa

[nsg] 8a (Moribund). 250 (1983), decreasing. Ethnic population: 4,290 (2000).

Okiek

[oki] 8a (Moribund).

Segeju

[seg] 8a (Moribund). 7,000, decreasing. Ethnic population: Less than 15,000.

Zaramo

[zaj] 8a (Moribund). Few speakers (Brenzinger, Heine, and Sommer 1991). Ethnic population: 657,000 (2000).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Aasáx

[aas] 8b (Nearly extinct). 350 (1999 J. Carr), decreasing. Some Assa with some knowledge of Aasáx, but most now use Maasai [mas] or Swahili [swh] or both.

9 (Dormant)

Arabic, Omani Spoken

[acx] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in Tanzania. Ethnic population: 195,000 in Tanzania (Johnstone 1993).

10 (Extinct)

Aramanik

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

Kw’adza

[wka] 10 (Extinct). No remaining speakers. C. Ehret reportedly worked with the last speaker (1976 M. Bender). Confirmed by (1999) R. Kiessling.

Mosiro

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

Ethnologue

Tanzania

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