| Country: | Niger |
Niger has 11 national languages, with French being the official language and Hausa the 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.
French, inherited from the colonial period, is the official language. It 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[1]). 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. See also: African FrenchNiger has ten official national languages, namely Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu.[2] 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:
| Language | Family | Approx % | Main region | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hausa | Afro-Asiatic / Chadic | 55.4% | South, central | Main trade language[3] | |
| Songhai | Songhay languages (nilo-saharan) | 21% | Southwest | Zarma and Songhay are considered together | |
| 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 | Nilo-Saharan | 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 | Nilo-Saharan | 0.4% | East | Spoken mainly by the Toubou people of Eastern Niger | |
| Other | N/A | 0.1% | Throughout | Any other languages |
| 1 | Hausa | 14,500,000 | |
| 2 | Zarma | 3,590,000 | |
| 3 | French | 2,506,000 | |
| 4 | Fulfulde, Central-Eastern Niger | 450,000 | |
| 5 | Fulfulde, Western Niger | 450,000 | |
| 6 | Tamajaq, Tawallammat | 450,000 | |
| 7 | Kanuri, Manga | 280,000 | |
| 8 | Tamajeq, Tayart | 250,000 | |
| 9 | Kanuri, Yerwa | 80,000 | |
| 10 | Dazaga | 50,000 | |
| 11 | Kanuri, Tumari | 40,000 | |
| 12 | Gourmanchéma | 30,000 | |
| 13 | Tagdal | 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 | Tedaga | 10,000 | |
| 19 | Arabic, Libyan Spoken | 9,300 | |
| 20 | Arabic, Shuwa | 9,300 | |
| 21 | Tasawaq | 8,000 | |
| 22 | Arabic, Standard | 7,800 | |
| 23 | Tetserret | 2,000 |
| Region | Languages | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuareg, Kanuri | ||
| Kanuri | ||
| Zarma | ||
| Hausa | ||
| Zarma | ||
| Hausa | ||
| Zarma | ||
| Kanuri |