Malawi

Languages

Afrikaans afr

Scattered. Users: 3,600 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Chichewa nya

West central and southwest. Users: 10,500,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook). , based on ethnicity. 7,271,000 Chewa, 2,200,000 Ngoni, 678,000 Manganja, and 382,000 Nyanja (2020 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 14,380,700. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Chewa, Chinyanja, Nyanja, Nyanja-Chewa Autonym: Chicheŵa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Chewa-Nyanja (N.31)

English eng

Users: 1,091,000 in Malawi, all users. L1 users: 11,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,080,000 (2020). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1994, Constitution, Articles 51.1b, 56.5, 94.2b). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Greek ell

Users: 5,400 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Gujarati guj

Users: 54,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati

Kacchi kfr

Blantyre, Lilongwe, Nkhata Bay, and Zomba districts; Mzuzu and urban centers. Users: 13,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cuchi, Cutch, Kachchi, Kachi, Katchi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi

Kokola kzn

Mulanje district; Thyolo district: Sandama area. Users: 319,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 482,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Ekokhola, Kokhola Autonym: iKokola Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Makhuwa (P.31)

Lambya lai

Chitipa and Karonga districts: along Tanzania and Zambia borders. Users: 59,500 in Malawi (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 106,900. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Ichilambya, Kilambya, Lambia, Lambwa, Rambia Autonym: ChiLambya Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.201)

Lomwe, Malawi lon

Blantyre, Machinga, Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba districts. Users: 3,990,000 (2020 World Factbook). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Anguru, Elhomwe, Nguru Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Makhuwa (P.331)

Malawian Sign Language lws

Scattered. Users: 93,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 55,000–110,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Deaf Action estimates 200,000 deaf overall (Baer 2013). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: MSL, Malawi Sign, Malawi Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Ndali ndh

Chitipa district: Sukwa Hills. Users: 70,000 in Malawi (2003 SIL). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Chindali Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyakyusa-Ngonde (M.301)

Nyakyusa-Ngonde nyy

Chitipa district: northeast; Karonga district: west of Lake Malawi. Users: 149,000 in Malawi (2009 UNSD). 18,800 Nyakyusa, 130,000 Nkonde (2009 UNSD). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Ikingonde, Ikinyikyusa, Kɨnyakyʉsa, Kinyakyusa, Konde, Kukwe, Mombe, Ngonde, Nkhonde, Nkonde, Nyakusa, Nyakyusa, Nyekyosa, Sochile, Sokile Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyakyusa-Ngonde (M.31)

Nyiha, Malawi nyr

Chitipa district: Kameme town area villages. Users: 10,000 (2007). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kinyiha, Shinyiha Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.23)

Nyika nkv

Chitipa district: Chisenga area villages; Karonga district: west. Users: 5,000 in Malawi (2007). Total users in all countries: 14,300. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Chinyika, Kinyika Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.23)

Portuguese por

Users: 18,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Sena, Malawi swk

Chikwawa district: south; Nsanje district; along Mozambique border. Users: 805,000 (2020 World Factbook). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Chisena, Cisena Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.441)

Shona sna

Users: 93,000 in Malawi (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)

Tonga tog

Nkhata Bay district: Lake Malawi west shore; Nkhotakota, Mzimba, and Rumphi districts. Users: 382,000 (2020 World Factbook). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Kitonga, Siska, Sisya, Western Nyasa Autonym: Chitonga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Manda (N.15)

Tumbuka tum

Chitipa and Karonga districts: Lake Malawi west shore; Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Rumphi, and Mzimba districts. Users: 1,950,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook). , based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 2,316,000. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Citumbuka, Tamboka, Tambuka, Timbuka, Tombucas, Tumboka Autonym: Chitumbuka Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Tumbuka (N.21)

Yao yao

Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, and Zomba districts: bordering Mozambique, between southeast tip of Lake Kilwa and Lake Malawi; Chiradzulu district: small area. Users: 2,800,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook). , based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 3,728,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Achawa, Adsawa, Adsoa, Ajawa, Ayao, Ayawa, Ayo, Chiyao, Chiyawo, Ciyaawo, Ciyao, Djao, Haiao, Hiao, Hyao, Jao, Veiao, Wajao, Yawo, chiYao, ciYao, waYao Autonym: Ciyawo Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Yao (P.21)

Zulu zul

Dedza, Karonga, Mzimba, and Ntcheu districts. Users: 72,000 in Malawi (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Isizulu, Kingoni, Ngoni, Zunda Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.42)