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South Africa
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1 (National)
Afrikaans
[afr]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Art 6(1)). 4,740,000 in South Africa (2006 census), decreasing. Population total all countries: 4,949,410.
English
[eng]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 3,670,000 in South Africa (2006 census).
Ndebele
[nbl]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 640,000 (2006).
Sotho, Northern
[nso]
1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 4,090,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 4,101,000.
Sotho, Southern
[sot]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 4,240,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing.
Swati
[ssw]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 1,010,000 in South Africa (1996 census).
Tsonga
[tso]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 1,940,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 3,669,000.
Tswana
[tsn]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 3,410,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing.
Venda
[ven]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 980,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 1,064,000.
Xhosa
[xho]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 7,790,000 in South Africa (2006). Population total all countries: 7,817,300.
Zulu
[zul]
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 9,980,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 10,349,100.
3 (Wider communication)
Pidgin Bantu
[fng]
3 (Wider communication). Several hundred thousand L2 speakers in South Africa (Reinecke et al. 1975).
4 (Educational)
Nama
[naq]
4 (Educational). 50,900 in South Africa (2006).
5 (Dispersed)
Hindi
[hin]
5 (Dispersed). 361,000 in South Africa (2003).
Swahili
[swh]
5 (Dispersed). 2,000 in South Africa (2006).
Urdu
[urd]
5 (Dispersed). 12,000 in South Africa (2006). 170,000 South Asian Muslims in South Africa (1987).
5 (Developing)
Ronga
[rng]
5 (Developing). 1,000 in South Africa (2006).
Tswa
[tsc]
5 (Developing). 20,000 in South Africa (2006).
6a (Vigorous)
Birwa
[brl]
6a (Vigorous).
Khwe
[xuu]
6a (Vigorous). 1,200 in South Africa (2010 LBT).
Oorlams
[oor]
6a (Vigorous). 32,000 (2006).
South African Sign Language
[sfs]
6a (Vigorous). 12,100 deaf persons including 6,000 Black, 2,000 English white, 2,000 Afrikaans white, 1,200 Coloured, 900 Indian (Van Cleve 1986).
8b (Nearly extinct)
N|u
[ngh]
8b (Nearly extinct). 12 (2005 N. Crawhall), decreasing. Ethnic population: 500 (1998 N. Crawhall).
Tsotsitaal
[fly]
8b (Nearly extinct). Had tens of thousands of primary users; hundreds of thousands of L2 users.
Xiri
[xii]
8b (Nearly extinct). 87 in South Africa (2000). Population total all countries: 187.
9 (Dormant)
Korana
[kqz]
9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: 10,000 in South Africa (1972 Barrett).
9 (Second language only)
Camtho
[cmt]
9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers.
Gail
[gic]
9 (Second language only). No known L1 speakers.
10 (Extinct)
Seroa
[kqu]
10 (Extinct). No remaining speakers.
|Xam
[xam]
10 (Extinct). No remaining speakers.
||Xegwi
[xeg]
10 (Extinct). No remaining speakers.