List of endangered languages of Oceania

This is a list of endangered languages of Oceania, based on the definitions used by UNESCO.

Language Endangerment Status by UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
Extinct (EX)
Extinct (EX)	(lists)
Endangered
Critically Endangered (CR) Severely Endangered (SE) Definitely Endangered (DE) Vulnerable (VU)	(list) (list) (list) (list)
Safe
Safe (NE)	no list
Other categories
Revived (RE) Constructed (CL)	(list) (list)
Related topics Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger Endangered Languages Project Ethnologue Unclassified language List of languages by total number of speakers
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger categories
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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use because there is little transmission of the language to younger generations. If a language loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language.

Australia

Main article: List of Australian Aboriginal languages

According to the 2016 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for close to 72.7% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin (2.5%), Arabic (1.4%), Cantonese (1.2%), Vietnamese (1.2%) and Italian (1.2%). A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual. ^[1]

Federated States of Micronesia

Main article: Micronesian languages

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Kapingamarangi language[2]		Severely endangered
Kosraean language[2]		Severely endangered	Micronesia & Nauru
Mokilese language[2]		Critically endangered
Mortlockese language, Mortlockese[2]		Definitely endangered
Namonuito language, Namonuito[2]		Severely endangered
Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole[2]		Definitely endangered
Nukuoro language, Nukuoro[2]		Definitely endangered
Nguluwan language[citation needed]
Paafang language, Paafang[2]		Severely endangered
Pingelapese language, Pingelapese[2]		Severely endangered
Puluwat language, Puluwat[2]		Severely endangered
Satawal language, Satawal[2]		Severely endangered
Ulithian language, Ulithian[2]		Severely endangered
Woleaian language, Woleaian[2]		Severely endangered

Indonesia

Main articles: Languages of Indonesia and List of endangered languages in Indonesia

The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.

Melanesia

New Caledonia

Main article: Languages of New Caledonia

The following languages of New Caledonia may be considered endangered.

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Arha language[2]	35	Critically endangered	Arhâ language	(1996 census)
Arho language[2]		Critically endangered
Caac language[2]		Vulnerable
Drubea language[2]		Vulnerable
Fagauvea language (Northern)[2]		Vulnerable
Fagauvea language (Southern)[2]		Vulnerable
Fwâi language[2]		Vulnerable
Jawe language[2]		Vulnerable
Kumak language[2]		Vulnerable
Neku language[2]		Severely endangered
Nemi language[2]		Definitely endangered
Orowe language[2]		Definitely endangered
Pije language[2]		Severely endangered
Pwaamèi language[2]		Definitely endangered
Pwapwa language[2]		Severely endangered
Tiri language[2]		Definitely endangered
Voh-Koné dialects[2]		Definitely endangered
Xaragure language[2]		Vulnerable

Papua New Guinea

Main articles: Languages of Papua New Guinea and List of endangered languages in Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Asumboa language[2]		Severely endangered
Blablanga language[2]		Definitely endangered
Faghani language[2]		Vulnerable
Gao language[2]		Vulnerable
Hoava language[2]		Vulnerable
Kokota language[2]		Vulnerable
Oroha language[2]		Severely endangered
Ririo language[2]		Critically endangered
Savo language[2]		Definitely endangered
Tanema language[2]		Critically endangered
Tanimbili language[2]		Severely endangered
Teanu language[2]		Definitely endangered
Vano language[2]		Critically endangered
Zazao language[2]		Critically endangered

Vanuatu

Main article: Languages of Vanuatu

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Amblong language[2]		Definitely endangered
Araki language[2]		Critically endangered
Aveteian language[2]		Critically endangered
Baki language[2]		Vulnerable
Bangsa language[2]		Critically endangered
Bierebo language[2]		Vulnerable
Bieria language[2]		Critically endangered
Dorig language[2]		Definitely endangered
Emae language[2]		Vulnerable
Hiw language[2]	280	Definitely endangered		(2010 A.François)
Koro language[2]		Definitely endangered
Labo language[2]		Vulnerable
Lakon language[2]		Vulnerable
Lehali language[2]		Vulnerable
Lemerig language[2]		Critically endangered
Lorediakarkar language[2]		Critically endangered
Löyöp language[2]	240	Vulnerable	Lehalurup	(2010 A.François)
Mafea language[2]		Definitely endangered
Malmariv language[2]		Vulnerable
Matanvat language[2]		Critically endangered
Mores language[2]		Severely endangered
Mwesen language[2]		Critically endangered
Naati language (Näti)[2]		Critically endangered
Naman language[2]		Critically endangered
Nasarian language[3]	5	Critically endangered		(Nasarian at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015))
Navwien language[2]		Critically endangered
Nisvai language[2]		Critically endangered
Nivat language[2]		Critically endangered
Niviar language[2]		Critically endangered
Olrat language[2]		Critically endangered
Polonomombauk language[2]		Definitely endangered
Repanbitip language[2]		Definitely endangered
Shark Bay language[2]		Vulnerable
Ske language[2]		Severely endangered
Sorsorian language (Sösörian)[2]		Critically endangered
Tambotalo language[2]	50	Severely endangered		(1983 SIL)
Tape language[2]		Critically endangered
Tolomako language[2]		Definitely endangered
Tutuba language[2]		Definitely endangered
Umbrul language (Numbuwul)[2]		Critically endangered
Ura language[2]	6	Critically endangered		(1998 T Crowley)
Vera'a language[2]		Definitely endangered
Volow language[2]		Critically endangered

Palau

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Tobian language	22	Critically endangered		(1995 SIL)
Sonsorolese language	600	Severely endangered

Polynesia

The following Polynesian languages considered endangered are mostly Polynesian outliers spoken by tiny minorities.

Language	Speakers	Status	Ethnologue entry (ISO 639-3)[2]
Rapa language (French Polynesia)[2]
Rapa Nui language (Chile)[2]
Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)[2]
Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)[2]
Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)[2]
Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)[2]
Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)[2]
Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)[2]
Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu)[2]
Anuta language (Solomon Islands)[2]
Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)[2]
Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)[2]
Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)[2]
Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)[2]
Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)[2]
Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)[2]
Pukapuka language (Cook Islands)[2]
Penrhyn language (Cook Islands)[2]
Tokelauan language (Tokelau)[2]

Other

Language	Location	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Austral language[2]	French Polynesia		Definitely endangered
Chamorro language[2]	Guam/Northern Mariana Islands		Vulnerable
Mangareva language[2]	French Polynesia		Severely endangered
Rakahanga-Manihiki language[2]	Cook Islands		Definitely endangered
Nauruan language[2]	Nauru		Severely endangered
Niuean language[2]	Niue		Definitely endangered	Vagahau Niue
Norfuk language (Norfolk)[2]	Norfolk Island		Definitely endangered
Norfuk language (Pitcairn)[2]	Pitcairn		Vulnerable
Penrhyn language[2]	Cook Islands		Severely endangered
Pukapukan language[2]	Cook Islands		Definitely endangered
Cook Islands Māori [2]	Cook Islands		Vulnerable	Rarotongan language
Rotuman language[2]	Fiji		Vulnerable
Tokelauan language[2]	Tokelau		Severely endangered
Tuamotuan language[2]	French Polynesia		Definitely endangered
Tuvaluan language[2]	Tuvalu		Definitely endangered
Hawaiian language[2]	Hawai'i		Definitely endangered