Languages of Niger
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{{Expand German|date=December 2021|topic=cult}}
{{Infobox country languages
|country = Niger
|image = Niger, Arlit (28), IOM billboard.jpg
|image size =
|caption =French in use on an official sign in Niger
|official = Hausa
|semi-official =
|national = Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu
|unofficial =
|main =
|indigenous =
|regional =
|vernacular = African French, Chadian Arabic
|minority = Tamahaq, Teda, Tasawaq, Tetserret
|immigrant =
|foreign = English, Chinese, Japanese
|sign = Francophone African Sign Language
| keyboard = AZERTY
| keyboard image = 200px
|source =
}}File:Karte Niger - Nationalsprachen.png
Niger has 11 national languages, with Hausa being the official and most spoken language. Depending on how they are counted, Niger has between 8 and 20 indigenous languages, belonging to the Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger–Congo families. The discrepancy comes from the fact that several are closely related, and can be grouped together or considered apart.
Official languages
The official language of Niger is Hausa.[https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2042328/africa-country-new-official-language-niger/amp République du Niger, "The massive African country that's just adopted a new official language" express.co.uk] (accessed 20 April 2025)
French, inherited from the colonial period is spoken mainly as a second language by people who have received an education (20% of Nigeriens are literate in French, and even 47% in cities, growing quickly as literacy improveshttp://www.odsef.fss.ulaval.ca/sites/odsef.fss.ulaval.ca/files/odsef_rr_alphab_niger_2015_final2.pdf, page 18-19.).
Although educated Nigeriens still constitute a relatively small percentage of the population, the French language is the language used by the official administration (courts, government, etc.), the media and the business community.
Niger is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie.
See also: African French{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
File:Niger Maradi & Zinder (18199280551).jpg, southern Niger]]
Niger has ten official national languages, namely Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu.[http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/afrique/niger-loi-2001-037-LNG.htm République du Niger, "Loi n° 2001-037 du 31 décembre 2001 fixant les modalités de promotion et de développement des langues nationales." L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde] (accessed 14 October 2014) These ten national languages, their language families, the approximate percentage of the population that speak them, their approximate home regions, and additional information are as follows:{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
| class="wikitable sortable" border=1 |
| Language
! Family ! Approx % ! Main region ! Notes |
|---|
| Hausa
| Afro-Asiatic / Chadic | 55.4% | South, central | Main trade language[http://www.ethnologue.com/country/NE/languages Ethnologue, 17th ed., Languages of Niger] (accessed 14 October 2014) |
| Songhai
| Songhay languages (nilo-saharan) | 21% | Southwest |
| Tamasheq
| Afro-Asiatic / Berber | 9.3% | North | |
| Fulfulde
| Niger–Congo / Atlantic | 8.5% | All | Fulfulde of Western Niger & Central-Eastern Niger are considered together |
| Kanuri
| 4.7% | Southeast | |
| Arabic
| Afro-Asiatic / Semitic | 0.4% | Southeast | Particularly spoken by the Diffa Arabs mainly in the Diffa Region |
| Gourmanchéma
| Niger–Congo / Gur | 0.4% | Southwest corner | Spoken mainly by the Gurma people of southwest Niger |
| Tebu
| 0.4% | East | Spoken mainly by the Toubou people of Eastern Niger |
| Other
| N/A | 0.1% | Throughout | Any other languages |
Languages by number of speakers (according to Ethnologue)
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Language !Speakers in Niger |
| 1
|14,500,000 |
| 2
|3,590,000 |
| 3
|2,506,000 |
| 4
|Fulfulde, Central-Eastern Niger |450,000 |
| 5
|Fulfulde, Western Niger |450,000 |
| 6
|450,000 |
| 7
|Kanuri, Manga |280,000 |
| 8
|Tamajeq, Tayart |250,000 |
| 9
|Kanuri, Yerwa |80,000 |
| 10
|50,000 |
| 11
|Kanuri, Tumari |40,000 |
| 12
|30,000 |
| 13
|26,900 |
| 14
|Kanuri, Bilma |20,000 |
| 15
|Tamahaq, Tahaggart |20,000 |
| 16
|Arabic, Hassaniyya |19,000 |
| 17
|Arabic, Algerian Saharan Spoken |10,000 |
| 18
|10,000 |
| 19
|Arabic, Libyan Spoken |9,300 |
| 20
|Arabic, Shuwa |9,300 |
| 21
|8,000 |
| 22
|Arabic, Standard |7,800 |
| 23
|2,000 |
By Region
=Dominant languages=
| class="wikitable"
! Region !! Languages | |
| Agadez Region | Tuareg, Kanuri |
| Diffa Region | Kanuri |
| Dosso Region | Zarma |
| Maradi Region | Hausa |
| Niamey | Zarma |
| Tahoua Region | Hausa |
| Tillabéri Region | Zarma |
| Zinder Region | Hausa |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=NE Ethnologue report on "Languages of Niger"]
- [http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Niger PanAfriL10n page on Niger]
- [http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/niger.htm Linguistic situation in Niger] {{in lang|fr}}
{{Languages of Niger}}
{{Africa in topic|Languages of}}
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