Languages

Every Indigenous African language on record: 2,317+ of them, across 43 families. For each one, how endangered it is and how much of it has ever been written down.

Languages
2,317+
Endangered
430
Already extinct
125
Wordlist or less
476

2,317 languages

  1. Aari

    South Omotic · East Africa · Ethiopia

    aiwaari1239
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  2. Aasax

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Tanzania

    aasaasa1238
    Extinct
    Phonology/text

  3. Abanyom

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    abmaban1242
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  4. Abé

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    abaabee1242
    Not endangered
    Grammar

  5. Abidji

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    abiabid1235
    Not endangered
    Grammar

  6. Abon

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Cameroon · Nigeria

    aboabon1238
    Threatened
    Wordlist or less

  7. Abron

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire · Ghana

    abrabro1238
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  8. Abua

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    abnabua1244
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  9. Abure

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    abuabur1243
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  10. Abureni

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    mgjabur1244
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  11. Acheron

    Narrow Talodi · North Africa · Sudan

    aczache1245
    Threatened
    Grammar sketch

  12. Acoli

    Nilotic · East Africa · South Sudan · Uganda

    achacol1236
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  13. Adamawa Fulfulde

    Atlantic-Congo · North Africa · Cameroon · Eritrea · Ethiopia +3 more

    fubadam1253
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  14. Adamorobe Sign Language

    Sign Language · West Africa · Ghana

    adsadam1238
    Shifting
    Grammar

  15. Adangbe

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Ghana · Togo

    adqadan1248
    Threatened
    Phonology/text

  16. Adangme

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Ghana

    adaadan1247
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  17. Adele

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Ghana · Togo

    adeadel1244
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  18. Adhola

    Nilotic · East Africa · Kenya · Uganda

    adhadho1243
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  19. Adioukrou

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    adjadio1239
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  20. Afade

    Afro-Asiatic · West Africa · Cameroon · Nigeria

    aalafad1236
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  21. Afar

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Djibouti · Eritrea · Ethiopia

    aarafar1241
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  22. Afitti

    Nyimang · North Africa · Sudan

    aftafit1238
    Shifting
    Phonology/text

  23. Afrikaans

    Indo-European · East Africa · Botswana · Mozambique · Namibia +3 more

    afrafri1274
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  24. Afudu

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    afud1235
    Extinct
    Wordlist or less

  25. Agatu

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    agcagat1236
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  26. Agbirigba

    Speech Register · West Africa · Nigeria

    agbi1234
    Not assessed
    Phonology/text

  27. Aghem

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Cameroon

    agqaghe1239
    Not endangered
    Grammar

  28. Aguna

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Benin · Togo

    augagun1238
    Shifting
    Wordlist or less

  29. Agwagwune

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    yayagwa1247
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  30. Àhàn

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    ahnahan1244
    Shifting
    Grammar

  31. Ahanta

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Ghana

    ahaahan1243
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  32. Aja (Benin)

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Benin · Togo

    ajgajab1235
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  33. Aja (South Sudan)

    Kresh-Aja · North Africa · Sudan · South Sudan

    ajaajas1235
    Shifting
    Grammar

  34. Ajawa

    Afro-Asiatic · West Africa · Nigeria

    ajwajaw1236
    Extinct
    Wordlist or less

  35. Ajiri

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    afoeloy1241
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  36. Ajumbu

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Cameroon

    mucmbuu1238
    Shifting
    Phonology/text

  37. Aka

    Eastern Jebel · North Africa · Sudan

    sohakaa1242
    Shifting
    Phonology/text

  38. Akan

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Ghana · Togo

    akaakan1250
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  39. Akaselem

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Togo

    aksakas1242
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  40. Akebu

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Togo

    keuakeb1238
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  41. Akie

    Nilotic · East Africa · Tanzania

    mwymosi1247
    Shifting
    Grammar sketch

  42. Akoose

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Cameroon

    bssakoo1248
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  43. Akpa

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    akfakpa1238
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  44. Akpes

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    ibeakpe1248
    Shifting
    Long grammar

  45. Akpondu

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    akpo1243
    Extinct
    Wordlist or less

  46. Akuku

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    aykakuk1235
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  47. Akum

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Cameroon · Nigeria

    akuakum1238
    Shifting
    Grammar sketch

  48. Akwa

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Congo - Brazzaville

    akwakwa1248
    Threatened
    Long grammar

  49. Akye

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    aikakee1238
    Threatened
    Phonology/text

  50. Alaba-K'abeena

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Ethiopia

    alwalab1254
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  51. Alago

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    alaalag1242
    Threatened
    Wordlist or less

  52. Alagwa

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Tanzania

    wbjalag1248
    Shifting
    Long grammar

  53. Ale-Gawwada

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Ethiopia

    gwdgaww1239
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  54. Alege

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    alfaleg1238
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  55. Algerian Arabic

    Afro-Asiatic · North Africa · Algeria · Morocco · Tunisia

    arqalge1239
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  56. Algerian Saharan Arabic

    Afro-Asiatic · North Africa · Algeria · Western Sahara · Libya +2 more

    aaoalge1240
    Not endangered
    Grammar

  57. Algerian Sign Language

    Sign Language · North Africa · Algeria

    aspalge1235
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  58. Ali

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Congo - Kinshasa · Central African Republic

    aiyalii1240
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  59. Alladian

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    aldalla1248
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  60. Alur

    Nilotic · Central Africa · Congo - Kinshasa · Uganda

    alzalur1250
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  61. Ama (Sudan)

    Nyimang · North Africa · Sudan

    nyiamas1236
    Not endangered
    Grammar

  62. Amba (Uganda)

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Congo - Kinshasa · Uganda

    rwmamba1263
    Threatened
    Wordlist or less

  63. Ambele

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Cameroon

    aelambe1247
    Threatened
    Phonology/text

  64. Ambo

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    ambambo1249
    Threatened
    Wordlist or less

  65. Amdang

    Furan · Central Africa · Chad

    amjamda1238
    Shifting
    Grammar sketch

  66. American Sign Language

    Sign Language · West Africa · Barbados · Burkina Faso · Benin +19 more

    aseamer1248
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  67. Amharic

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Djibouti · Ethiopia

    amhamha1245
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  68. Amira

    Tegem · North Africa · Sudan

    amir1234
    Not assessed
    Wordlist or less

  69. Amkoe

    Kxa · Southern Africa · Botswana

    huchoaa1235
    Moribund
    Grammar

  70. Amo

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    amoamoo1242
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  71. Ampari Dogon

    Dogon · West Africa · Mali

    aqdampa1238
    Shifting
    Wordlist or less

  72. Ana Tinga Dogon

    Dogon · West Africa · Mali

    dtianat1248
    Threatened
    Wordlist or less

  73. Anaang

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    anwanaa1238
    Threatened
    Grammar sketch

  74. Anfillo

    Ta-Ne-Omotic · East Africa · Ethiopia

    myoanfi1235
    Shifting
    Grammar

  75. Angolar

    Indo-European · Central Africa · São Tomé & Príncipe

    aoaango1258
    Threatened
    Long grammar

  76. //Ani

    Khoe-Kwadi · Southern Africa · Botswana

    hnhanii1246
    Shifting
    Grammar sketch

  77. Anii

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Benin · Togo

    bloanii1245
    Threatened
    Long grammar

  78. Animere

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Ghana

    anfanim1239
    Moribund
    Phonology/text

  79. Aninka

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    aqkanin1242
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  80. Annobonese

    Indo-European · Central Africa · Equatorial Guinea

    fabfada1250
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  81. Antankarana Malagasy

    Austronesian · East Africa · Madagascar

    xmvanta1255
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  82. Anuak

    Nilotic · East Africa · Ethiopia · South Sudan

    anuanua1242
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  83. Anufo

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Benin · Ghana · Togo

    ckoanuf1239
    Not endangered
    Grammar

  84. Anyin

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire · Ghana

    anyanyi1245
    Not endangered
    Long grammar

  85. Anyin Morofo

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    mtbanyi1244
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  86. Aproumu Aizi

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Côte d’Ivoire

    ahpapro1235
    Threatened
    Phonology/text

  87. Arame-Gubaare

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Guinea-Bissau

    aram1260
    Threatened
    Grammar sketch

  88. Arbore

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Ethiopia

    arvarbo1245
    Shifting
    Long grammar

  89. Argobba

    Afro-Asiatic · East Africa · Ethiopia

    agjargo1244
    Threatened
    Long grammar

  90. Arigidi

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    aqgarig1246
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  91. Aringa

    Central Sudanic · East Africa · South Sudan · Uganda

    lucarin1244
    Not endangered
    Wordlist or less

  92. Arum

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    aabalum1246
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  93. Arusha

    Unattested · East Africa · Tanzania

    arus1242
    Extinct
    Wordlist or less

  94. Ashe

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    ahsashe1269
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  95. Asoa

    Central Sudanic · Central Africa · Congo - Kinshasa

    asvasoa1238
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  96. Assangori

    Tamaic · North Africa · Sudan · Chad

    sjgassa1269
    Threatened
    Grammar sketch

  97. Asu (Nigeria)

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    aumasun1235
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

  98. Asu (Tanzania)

    Atlantic-Congo · East Africa · Kenya · Tanzania

    asaasut1235
    Not endangered
    Grammar sketch

  99. Atong

    Atlantic-Congo · Central Africa · Cameroon

    atoaton1242
    Threatened
    Wordlist or less

  100. Atsam

    Atlantic-Congo · West Africa · Nigeria

    cchatsa1241
    Not endangered
    Phonology/text

Reference data from Glottolog 5.2.1, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Hammarström, Harald & Forkel, Robert & Haspelmath, Martin & Bank, Sebastian. 2025. Glottolog 5.2.1. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. (Available online at https://glottolog.org)Endangerment status is Glottolog's Agglomerated Endangerment Status; documentation depth is its Most Extensive Description. Speaker counts are deliberately absent, because Glottolog does not publish them.