South Sudan

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (2011, Constitution, Article 6.2). Almost no L1 speakers.

Arabic, Sudanese Creole

[pga] 3 (Wider communication). Used as L1 or L2 in Juba and other towns in Greater Equatoria region. As a creole and lingua franca, this language varies enormously in form from place to place, and from speaker to speaker (depending on subject matter and interlocuter), and is changing rapidly. 820,000, all users. L1 users: 20,000 (1987). With the rapidly changing demographic situation it is very difficult to know the number of L1 or L2 speakers and whether these numbers are increasing or decreasing. L2 users: 800,000 (2013 SIL).

Arabic, Sudanese Spoken

[apd] 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Used as a lingua franca in northern South Sudan and now widely spoken by hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese arriving from the North following South Sudan’s independence. A reasonable population estimate cannot be given at this time because of the recent increase in population of South Sudan by those arriving from Sudan.

Bari

[bfa] 3 (Wider communication). Regional language chosen for development by Rejaf Conference 1928. 595,000 in South Sudan, all users. L1 users: 420,000 in South Sudan (2000). L2 users: 175,000 (2013 SIL). Total users in all countries: 641,500 (as L1: 466,500; as L2: 175,000).

Zande

[zne] 3 (Wider communication). LWC across Gbudwe and Tambura states, for church, market, and media domains. Regional language chosen for development by Rejaf Conference 1928. 450,000 in South Sudan, all users. L1 users: 350,000 in South Sudan (1982 SIL). L2 users: 100,000 (2013 SIL).

4 (Educational)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 4 (Educational). 3,130,000 in South Sudan (2016 SIL), all users.

Dinka, Northeastern

[dip] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 320,000 (1986 UBS).

Dinka, South Central

[dib] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)). 250000

Dinka, Southeastern

[dks] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 250,000 in South Sudan. Total users in all countries: 252,120.

Dinka, Southwestern

[dik] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 450,000 (1982 UBS).

Jur Modo

[bex] 4 (Educational). 100,000 (2004 SIL).

Moru

[mgd] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)). 70,000 (1982 SIL). 1,200 Agi, 2,500 Andri, 5,000 Kadiro, 9,000 Miza, 400 Wa’di.

Nuer

[nus] 4 (Educational). 740,000 in South Sudan (1982). 2,940 Western Jikany, 12,500 Lou, 1,100 Nyuong, 2,500 Thiang, 5,900 Bul, 2,400 Jagai, 6,700 Laak, 4,900 Leik, 1,600 Door, 17,600 Eastern Jikany (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). Total users in all countries: 896,280 (as L1: 895,160; as L2: 1,120).

5 (Developing)

Acholi

[ach] 5 (Developing). 27,000 in South Sudan (2000 SIL).

Anuak

[anu] 5 (Developing). 52,000 in South Sudan (1991 UBS). Total users in all countries: 144,710 (as L1: 142,600; as L2: 2,110).

Avokaya

[avu] 5 (Developing). 40,000 in South Sudan (2002 SIL). Total users in all countries: 65,000.

Baka

[bdh] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 25,000 in South Sudan (1993 UBS). Total users in all countries: 26,300.

Belanda Bor

[bxb] 5 (Developing). 8,000 (1983).

Belanda Viri

[bvi] 5 (Developing). 16,000 (Welmers 1971a).

Beli

[blm] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 65,000 (2009 SIL).

Didinga

[did] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)). 60,000 (2007 SIL).

Gbaya

[krs] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution Article 6(1)). 20,000 in South Sudan, all users. L1 users: 16,000 in South Sudan (2013 SIL). L2 users: 4,000. Total users in all countries: 20,000 (as L1: 16,000; as L2: 4,000).

Kakwa

[keo] 5 (Developing). 40,000 in South Sudan (1978).

Keliko

[kbo] 5 (Developing). 30,000 in South Sudan (2018 SIL). Total users in all countries: 42,500.

Luwo

[lwo] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 80,000 (1983 census).

Mabaan

[mfz] 5 (Developing). 90,000 (2017 UBS).

Mandari

[mqu] 5 (Developing). 70,000 (2014 T. Stirtz).

Mündü

[muh] 5 (Developing). 23,000 in South Sudan. Total users in all countries: 25,800.

Murle

[mur] 5 (Developing). 60,000 (1982 SIL).

Narim

[loh] 5 (Developing). 3,620 (Fukui 1984).

Ndogo

[ndz] 5 (Developing). 20,000 (2011 SIL). Few monolinguals.

Otuho

[lot] 5 (Developing). 135,000 (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). 2,500 Koriot, 1,000 Lomya.

Päri

[lkr] 5 (Developing). 28,000 (1987 SIL).

Shilluk

[shk] 5 (Developing). 175,000 (1982 SIL).

Tennet

[tex] 5 (Developing). 10,000 (2009 SIL).

Toposa

[toq] 5 (Developing). 100,000 (2000 M. Schroeder). Most are monolingual.

Uduk

[udu] 5 (Developing). 22,000 in Sudan and South Sudan (split between the 2 not known).

6a* (Vigorous)

Banda, Togbo-Vara

[tor] 6a* (Vigorous). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Bongo

[bot] 6a* (Vigorous). 10,100 (2000).

Fulfulde, Adamawa

[fub] 6a* (Vigorous).

T’apo

[lgn] 6a* (Vigorous).

6a (Vigorous)

Dinka, Northwestern

[diw] 6a (Vigorous). 80,000 (1986).

Jumjum

[jum] 6a (Vigorous).

Kacipo-Balesi

[koe] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 in South Sudan (2010 SIL). Almost all monolingual. Total users in all countries: 7,360.

Komo

[xom] 6a (Vigorous).

Lango

[lno] 6a (Vigorous). 38,000 (2007 SIL).

Lopit

[lpx] 6a (Vigorous). 50,000 (1995 S. Randal).

Ma’di

[mhi] 6a (Vigorous). 18,000 in South Sudan (1982).

Morokodo

[mgc] 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)), primary education, literacy efforts. 50,000 (2011 A. Persson). 280 Biti (2011 A. Persson).

Nyamusa-Molo

[nwm] 6a (Vigorous). 1,630 (2011 R. Abraham).

Olu’bo

[lul] 6a (Vigorous). 15,000 (1985 SIL).

Reel

[atu] 6a (Vigorous). 50,000 (1998). The Kuek and Jikeyi have many monolinguals and are regarded as having the purest form of the language (SIL).

6b (Threatened)

Dongotono

[ddd] 6b (Threatened). 5,000 (2013 SIL).

6b* (Threatened)

Lokoya

[lky] 6b* (Threatened). 12,400. No monolinguals.

7 (Shifting)

Bai

[bdj] 7 (Shifting). 2,500 (Welmers 1971a).

Banda, Mid-Southern

[bjo] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Banda-Banda

[bpd] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Banda-Mbrès

[bqk] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Banda-Ndélé

[bfl] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Feroge

[fer] 7 (Shifting). 8,000 (1982).

Mo’da

[gbn] 7 (Shifting). 600 (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

Thuri

[thu] 7 (Shifting). 6,600 (Tucker and Bryan 1956).

Yulu

[yul] 7 (Shifting). 3,000 in South Sudan (1987 SIL). Population is total for both Sudan and South Sudan. 2,000 Yulu, 1,000 Binga.

8a (Moribund)

Banda, West Central

[bbp] 8a (Moribund). 3,000 in South Sudan (1982). 5,000 speakers in South Sudan of all Banda languages (2014 SIL).

Indri

[idr] 8a (Moribund). 700

Njalgulgule

[njl] 8a (Moribund). 900 (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Aja

[aja] 8b (Nearly extinct). 200 (1993 SIL).

Mangayat

[myj] 8b (Nearly extinct). 400 (1987 SIL). No monolinguals.

9 (Dormant)

Boguru

[bqu] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in South Sudan. Last speaker in South Sudan died in 2011 (2011 A. Persson). Ethnic population: 500.

10 (Extinct)

Homa

[hom] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last speaker died by 1975.

Mittu

[mwu] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker survived into the 1940s.

Togoyo

[tgy] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker probably died in the mid 1980s.

Mar	APR	May
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2018	2019	2020

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