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Languages of Niger

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Languages of Niger
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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.

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Ethnolinguistic map of Niger
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Official languages

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The official language of Niger is Hausa.[1]

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 improves[2]). 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]

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Woman writing on a blackboard in the Hausa language, southern Niger

Niger has ten official national languages, namely Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu.[3] 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]

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Languages by number of speakers (according to Ethnologue)

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By Region

Dominant languages

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See also

References

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