Most spoken languages in Africa 2024

Rank	Language	Native Speakers in Million	Official status per country
1	Arabic	150	Algeria, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania (Zanzibar), Tunisia
2	Swahili	50	Official in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo
3	Hausa	49	Nigeria, Ghana, Niger
4	Oromo	37	Ethiopia
5	Yoruba	28	Nigeria, Benin, Togo
6	Igbo	27	Native in Nigeria
7	Fulani	25	Senegal national language
8	Amharic	21	Ethiopia
9	Malagasy	18	Madagascar
10	Portuguese	17	Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe
11	Somali	16.6	Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya
12	Berber	16	Morocco, Algeria
13	Akan	11	Ghana
14	Zulu	10.4	South Africa
15	Kinyarwanda	9.8	Rwanda
16	Chewa	9.7	Malawi, Zimbabwe
17	Kirundi	8.8	Burundi
18	Gikuyu	8.1	Kenya
19	Mossi	7.6	Regional language in Burkina Faso
20	Xhosa	7.6	South Africa, Zimbabwe
21	Afrikaans	7.2	National language in Namibia, co-official in South Africa
22	Shona	7.11	Zimbabwe
23	Tigrinya	7	Eritrea, regional language in Ethiopia
24	Kalenjin	6.6	Spoken in Kenya and Uganda
25	English	6.5	In most of the African Countries
26	Tshiluba	6.3	National language of Democratic Republic of the Congo
27	Umbundu	6	Angola
28	Tswana	5.8	Botswana, South Africa, spoken in Zimbabwe
29	Kongo	5.6	Angola, Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo
30	Sesotho	5.6	Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe
31	Lingala	5.5	Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo
32	Wolof	5.4	Senegal
33	Luo	5	Kenya, Tanzania
34	Tsonga	5	South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique
35	Northern Sotho	4.6	South Africa
36	Luganda	4.1	Native language of Uganda
37	Abron	1.4	Ghana
38	Venda	1.3	South Africa, Zimbabwe
39	French	1.2	In most of the Countries
40	Mauritian Creole	1.1	Native language of Mauritius
41	Ndebele	1.1	South Africa
42	Spanish	1.1	Equatorial Guinea, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Morocco
43	Dangme	1	Ghana
44	Khoekhoe	0.3	National language of Namibia
45	Bhojpuri	0.07	Spoken in Mauritius, South Africa

African Languages by Country by 2023

The official languages of Algeria is Arabic and Tamazight. Tamazight is closely related to Berber language. French is spoken by governmental and educational class.

Portuguese is the official language of Angola, many people speak one or several of Bantu or Khoisan languages. Kimbundu, Umbundu, Kikongo, Chokwe, Kwanyama, Ganguela are the minority languages of Angola.

French is the official language of Benin, with Fon and Yoruba being the most common languages in the south. Six major languages are spoken in the north, of them are Portuguese, Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo, Chokwe, Ngangela and Kwanyama.

English and Tswana are the official languages of Botswana, with Tswana being the most common national language.

French is the official language of Burkina Faso. Mossi, Dyula and Fula are the national languages.

French and Kirundi are co-official of Burundi. Many also speak Swahili in Burundi.

English and French are co-official language of Cameroon, with Cameroonian Pidgin English widely spoken.

Portuguese is official in Cape Verde. Most spoken language in Cape is Verdean Creole.

French and Sango are co-official in Central African Republic, the former is the lingua franca. Sango is the local language with the most speakers.

Arabic and French are co-official in Chad, with over 120 other languages spoken.

French with four national languages Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba are official in DR Congo.

French is official in Republic of the Congo, but is only spoken by the official purpose. Lingala and Kituba are national linguae francae, the latter is a creole of Kikongo.

Arabic and French are co-official in Djibouti, other widely spoken languages are Afar and Somali.

Arabic is official in Egypt, with Egyptian Arabic being the most common spoken language. English and French are major languages for education and trade.

Spanish, French and Portuguese are official in Equatorial Guinea, Other languages include Annobonese, Bubi, Fang, Igbo, and Pichinglis.

There is no official language in Eritrea, but Arabic, English, Italian and Tigrinya are widely used by the government. Other common languages include Afar, Bilen, Kunama, Nara, Saho, Tigre and Beja.

Afar, Amharic, Oromo, Somali and Tigrinya are official in Ethiopia, English is widely spoken and used in secondary school.

English is official in Ghana, Akan, Dagaare/Wale, Dagbane, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem and Nzema are government recognized languages treated as co-official.

Portuguese is official language in Guinea-Bissau, but the most widely spoken language is a Portuguese-based creole language called Kriol.

Arabic is official in Libya, Tamazight is spoken by about 10% of the population. Italian is known and understood by some older Libyans.

French is official in Mali, Bambara is the primary lingua franca. Other popular languages, including Bambara, Fula, Sonrai, and Soninke

Arabic is official in Mauritania, other languages spoken include Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof. French is used by upper class people.

English is the de jure official language, French is more widely spoken, making it the de facto official language of Mauritius. Tamil, Hindi and other Indian languages are spoken by the Indian community. Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese are also spoken by some.

Arabic and Berber are the official languages in Morocco, French is also widely spoken.

Portuguese is the official language in Mozambique. Makua, Sena, Ndau, Xitsonga and Swahili are spoken by a some amount of the population. English is second language as it is introduced in Education.

The official language is English in Namibia. Oshiwambo, Khoekhoegowab, Otjiherero, RuKwangali and siLozi are regional languages. Whites in Namibia speak Afrikaans or German.

French is the official language in Niger. Hausa, Djerma, Tamajaq, Fulfulde are popular African languages.

English is the official language in Nigeria, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, Edo, Adamawa, Fulfulde, Idoma, and Central Kanuri are all widely spoken.

Kinyarwanda, French, and English are official languages in Rwanda. Kinyarwanda is the native of the vast majority of the population. French and English are only spoken by a minority.

The official languages are Arabic and Spanish in Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Portuguese is the official language in São Tomé and Príncipe, spoken by 95% of the population.

English is the official language in Sierra Leone, Krio is widely spoken as the ethnic language.

Somali and Arabic are official in Somalia. Somali is the most spoken language. Other Afro-Asiatic languages are Maay, Dabarre, and Tunni.

South Africa has 11 official languages, they are Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.

English is official in South Sudan. Juba Arabic, Bari, Dinka, Luo, Murle, Nuer, Zande are the some of the native languages.

English and siSwati are the official languages in Eswatini. Zulu is widely spoken in the southern region of the country.

Arabic is official in Tunisia, French is often used as a language of business and trade.

English and Swahili are official in Uganda. Indeed, Ganda is the most spoken language. Soga, Nkole, Kiga, Teso, Masaba, Nyoro are the minority languages.

English is the official language in Zimbabwe, while Shona, Northern Ndebele and Kalanga are spoken by the majority of the population.

Endangered languages in Africa

Country	Vulnerable	Endangered	Extinct
Benin		Tchumbuli
Botswana	Gana, Gui	Yeyi, Taa, Ani, Kua, Ts'ixa, , Danisi, Xaise, Hoa	Deti
Cameroon		Gyele, Kuk, Yasa, Kung, Kendem, Iyive, Tuotomb, Hya, Bati, Eman, Isu, Nubaca, Maslam, Bubia, Langa, Beezen, Akum, Majera, Hijuk, Bakole, Mono, Dimbong, Cambap, Zumaya, Somyev, Busuu, Ndai, Njerep, Baldemu, Bung, Bikya, Bishuo	Duli, Gey, Nagumi, Ngong
Central African Republic	Yulu	Ngombe, Ukhwejo, Geme, Birri
Chad	Karang	Gadang, Zirenkel, Kulfa, Sarwa, Kendeje, Saba, Kujarge, Toram, Jaya, Mambai, Jonkor Bourmataguil, Besme, Fania, Ubi, Fongoro, Mbara, Maslam, Koke, Laal, Tamki, Miltu, Boor, Noy, Goundo, Massalat, Mabiri	Berakou, Horo
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Yulu	Beeke, Kari, Boguru, Ngbinda	Li-Ngbee
Eritrea		Dahaalik
Ethiopia	Yem, Oyda, Kwama, Chara, Bussa, Dimme, Nayi, Mursi	Komo, Ts'amay, Bambassi, Arbore, Hozo, Bayso, Gats'ama - Ganjule - Harro, K'emant, Zay, Shabo, Argobba, Anfillo, Opuuo, Karo, Kwegu, Ongota	Boro, Gafat, Ge'ez, Qwarenya
Ghana	Tuwuli, Tafi, Konni	Kamara, Animere
Guinea		Nalu, Baga Manduri, Pukur, Badiaranke, Baga Sitemu, Mani, Baga Mboteni	Baga Kalem
Guinea Bissau	Ediamat	Kasanga, Cobiana
Kenya	Suba, Burji	Boni, Bong'om, Dahalo, Ongamo, Omotik	Elmolo, Kinare, Kore, Lorkoti, Yaaku, Sogoo
Libya	Ghadames	Tamahaq (Libya), Nafusi, Awjila, Domari, Sawkna
Mauritania		Imeraguen, Zenaga (Mauritania), Nemadi
Morocco	Figuig	Tamazight (Beni Iznassen), Moroccan Judeo-Arabic (Morocco), Judezmo (Europe), Ghomara, Sanhaja of Srair	Tamazight (Ait Rouadi), Judeo-Berber (Morocco)
Nigeria	Bade, Gera, Reshe	Polci cluster, Duguza, Gurdu-Mbaaru, Ngwaba, Geji cluster, Fyem, Gura, Kona, Hya, Ndunda, Ilue, Bakpinka, Gyem, Akum, Defaka, Dulbu, Jilbe, Kiong, Mvanip, Yangkam, Kudu-Camo, Somyev, Luri, Sambe	Odut, Zeem
Senegal	Jola-Kassa, Mancagne, Bassari, Bayot, Gusilay, Noon, Bandial, Karone, Paloor, Bainouk-Gunyaamolo	Menik, Kwatay, Bainouk-Samik, Mlomp, Cobiana
Sierra Leone		Bom, Mani, Kim	Mo-peng, Sei
South Africa		Xiri, N'uu, Korana	Gan'ne, Cape Khoekhoe, 'Auni, Xam, Ku 'e, Kx'au, Xegwi
Sudan	Heiban, Feroge, Yulu, Thuri, Dongotono, Tennet	Lumun, Laro, Moro, Krongo, Katla, Karko, Kadaru, Komo, Bongo, Belanda Bor, Tingal, Beli, Dilling, Aka, Narim, Bai, Acheron, Ngile, Shatt, Tagoi, Otoro, Temein, Tulishi, Kanga, Tumtum, Keiga, Lafofa, Afitti, Ebang, Tocho, Morokodo, Tima, Logol, Warnang, Dair, El Hugeirat, Njalgulgule, Indri, Eliri, Nding, Shwai, Ko, Logorik, Talodi, Tese, Tirma, Mo'da, Boguru, Wali, Buga, Aja, Kelo, Molo	Baygo, Berti, Birgid, Gule, Homa, Togoyo
Togo			Boro
Tunisia		Tamazight (Tunisia), Tunisian Judeo-Arabic (Tunisia)	Sened
Uganda	Amba	Ik, Soo	Napore, Nyang'i, Singa
Tanzania	Suba, Burunge, Vidunda, Hadza	Zaramo, Dhaiso, Segeju, Kami, Gweno, Akie	Aasax, Kw'adza
Western Sahara		Zenaga (Western Sahara)