Equatorial Guinea

Languages

Bapuku bnm

Litoral province: Bapuku along central coast, south of Mbini to Cabo San Juan. Users: 8,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 SIL), decreasing. Very few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 9,000 (2017). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Bapoko, Bapuu, Batanga, Naka, Puku Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.32)

Benga bng

Litoral province: Corisco Island, Rio Muni. Users: 4,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 S. Smith), decreasing. 500 on Corisco Island. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 4,500 (2017 S. Smith). Total users in all countries: 5,500. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Boumba, Ndowe Autonym: Benga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.34)

Bube bvb

Bioko Norte and Bioko Sur provinces: Bioko Island, Fernando Po. Users: 51,000 (2017 S. Smith), decreasing. Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 61,000 (2017 S. Smith). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Adeeyah, Adija, Bobe, Boobe, Boombe, Ediya, Fernandian Autonym: Bube, Bubi Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.31)

Equatorial Guinean Pidgin fpe

Bioko Norte and Bioko Sur provinces: north central Bioko Island, Fernando Po, Malabo area; Balueri de Cristo Rey, Basupu, Fiston, Las Palmas, Musola, and Sampaca. Users: 200,000, all users. L1 users: 15,000 (2020 S. Smith), increasing. L2 users: 185,000 (2020 S. Smith). Very few monolinguals. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Offshoot of Krio language of Sierra Leone; brought to Bioko with African settlers from Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1827. Used as LWC across Bioko island, including the capital city of Malabo, in all domains except education and government. Alternate Names: Criollo, Fernandino, Fernando Po Creole English, Fernando Po Krio, Pichinglis, Pidgin de Guinea Ecuatorial, Pidginglis Autonym: Pichi Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio

Fa d’Ambu fab

Annobón province, isolated from mainland by 360 km of ocean; Bioko Norte province: Malabo; a few on continental Equatorial Guinea. Users: 6,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 S. Smith). No monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 6,600. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Annobonense, Annobonese, Annobonés, Fa d’Ambô Autonym: Fa d’Ambu Classification: Creole, Portuguese based

Fang fan

Widespread. Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas provinces. Users: 624,000 in Equatorial Guinea, all users. L1 users: 589,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2013 S. Smith), increasing. L2 users: 35,000 (2013 S. Smith). Total users in all countries: 1,096,800 (as L1: 1,061,800; as L2: 35,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Used as LWC in continental Equatorial Guinea (the area previously known as Rio Muni). Used in church, market, business, media, and music. It became a LWC by virtue of its dominant status as mother tongue of 85% of the country’s population. Alternate Names: Pahouin, Pamue, Pangwe Autonym: Fang Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Ewondo-Fang (A.75)

French fra

Major cities. Users: 380,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2018), L2 users. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1998, Constitution, Article 4(1) as amended). Alternate Names: Francés, Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Gyele gyi

Centro Sur and Litoral provinces. Users: 50 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 SIL). Possibly hundreds more in isolated camps. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Babinga, Bagiele, Bagyele, Bajele, Bajeli, Bako, Bakola, Bakuele, Bekoe, Bogyel, Bogyeli, Bondjiel, Giele, Gieli, Gyeli, Likoya Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Makaa-Njem (A.801)

Hindi hin

Users: 1,400 in Equatorial Guinea (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Kombe nui

Litoral province: Rio Muni coast. Users: 9,200 (2011 SIL). Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 9,200. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Combe, Ndowe, Ngumbi Autonym: Kombe Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.33)

Kwasio nmg

Litoral province: coastal Rio Muni, Bisio. Users: 13,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2011 SIL). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Bujeba, Mabea, Mabi, Magbea, Mgoumba, Mvumbo, Ngoumba, Ngumba Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Makaa-Njem (A.81)

Molengue bxc

Litoral province: South tip and Rio Benito, inland. Users: 900 (2017 S. Smith), decreasing. L2 users: 0 (2017). Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,000 (2017 S. Smith). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Balengue, Molendji Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, B, Kele (B.211)

Portuguese por

Major cities. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2010, Constitution, Article 4(1) as amended). Alternate Names: Portugués, Português Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Seki syi

Litoral province. Users: 11,000 in Equatorial Guinea (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, B, Kele (B.21)

Spanish spa

Widespread. Users: 318,000 in Equatorial Guinea, all users. L1 users: Few L1 users. L2 users: 318,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitution, Article 4). Alternate Names: Español Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Yasa yko

Litoral province: Edjabe village. Users: 1,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 S. Smith), decreasing. Ethnic population: 1,100 (2017). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Bongwe, Iyasa, Lyassa, Maasa, Yassa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.33)