PT
Portuguese Republic
Portugal
Summary
Official Name
Portuguese Republic
International Conventions
CDE (1981), CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2008), FCPNM (2002), ICCPR (1978), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
10,226,000
Principal Languages
Portuguese
Literacy Rate
96% (2018 UNESCO)
General References
Agard 1984, Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Portugal is 16. All are living languages. Of these, 6 are indigenous and 10 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 7 are developing, 3 are in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 10 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary
- Users: 5,800 in Portugal (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Total Arabic speakers in Portugal: 25,800 (2021 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc
- Users: 20,000 in Portugal (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Total Arabic speakers in Portugal: 28,500 (2021 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Asturian ast
- Bragança district: Miranda do Douro and Vimioso municipalities, 2 towns. Users: 10,000 in Portugal (Salminen 2007). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Asturian-Leonese, Asturianu Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Asturo-Leonese
- Barranquian ext
- Beja district: Barrancos municipality. Users: 1,500 in Portugal. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Barranquenho, Barranquênhu, Cahtúo, Cahtúö, Ehtremeñu, Extremaduran, Extremeño Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
- Bulgarian bul
- Users: 5,030 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
- Caló rmq
- Scattered. Users: 5,000 in Portugal. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Calão, Gitano, Iberian Romani Classification: Mixed language, Iberian-Romani
- Chinese zho
- Users: 10,400 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished.
- Dutch nld
- Users: 6,590 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
- English eng
- Users: 2,778,500 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 18,500 in Portugal (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 2,760,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Inglês Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- French fra
- Widespread. Users: 2,590,600 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 10,600 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 2,580,000 (2018). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Inglês Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
- Galician glg
- Bragança and Vila Real districts: northern portions. Users: 15,000 in Portugal (1994 SIL). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Galego, Gallego Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
- German, Standard deu
- Users: 124,000 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 20,000 in Portugal (2019 Eurostat). L2 users: 104,000 (2019 Eurostat). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- Guinea-Bissau Creole pov
- Users: 23,700 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
- Hindi hin
- Users: 4,100 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
- Italian ita
- Users: 5,990 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
- Kabuverdianu kea
- Primarily in the neighborhoods on the outskirts of Lisbon. Users: 63,900 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc), increasing. Status: 5 (Dispersed). Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
- Minderico drc
- Leiria district: Porto de Mós municipality, Mira de Aire; Santarém district: Alacanena municipality, Minde. Users: 500 (2010 V. Ferreira). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Calão de Minde Autonym: Minderico, Piação dos Charales do Ninhou Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
- Mirandese mwl
- Bragança district: Miranda do Douro and Vimioso municipalities, Miranda city; Spain border. Users: 15,000 (2000). 10,000 use it regularly, 5,000 when they return to the area. 2,000 Sendinese in Sendim Vila. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory language of provincial identity in 4 municipalities, northeast Portugal (1999, Law No. 7-99 of 29 January). Alternate Names: Mirandês Autonym: Mirandés Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Asturo-Leonese
- Portuguese por
- Widespread. Users: 9,900,000 in Portugal (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 257,660,250 (as L1: 232,434,250; as L2: 25,226,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2005, Constitution, Article 11(3)). Autonym: Português Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
- Portuguese Sign Language psr
- Scattered, including Azores and Madeira islands. Users: 10,000 in Portugal (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). About 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 52,000 (2014 IMB); 60,000 (2021 EUD). Used by many of 8,000 deaf persons (Van Cleve 1986). Total users in all countries: 10,550. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1997, Constitution, Article 74(2h)). Alternate Names: LGP, Língua Gestual Portuguesa Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Romani, Vlax rmy
- Scattered. Users: 500 in Portugal. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
- Romanian ron
- Users: 33,200 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
- Russian rus
- Users: 5,110 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Sãotomense cri
- Users: 10,600 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
- Spanish spa
- Users: 706,330 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 9,330 in Portugal (2019). L2 users: 697,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
- Ukrainian ukr
- Users: 39,500 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Languages by Status
Portuguese
[por] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2005, Constitution, Article 11(3)). 9,900,000 in Portugal (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 257,660,250 (as L1: 232,434,250; as L2: 25,226,000).
Mirandese
[mwl] 2 (Provincial). Statutory language of provincial identity in 4 municipalities, northeast Portugal (1999, Law No. 7-99 of 29 January). 15,000 (2000). 10,000 use it regularly, 5,000 when they return to the area. 2,000 Sendinese in Sendim Vila.
English
[eng] 4 (Educational). 2,778,500 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 18,500 in Portugal (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 2,760,000 (European Commission 2012).
French
[fra] 4 (Educational). 2,590,600 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 10,600 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 2,580,000 (2018).
German, Standard
[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 124,000 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 20,000 in Portugal (2019 Eurostat). L2 users: 104,000 (2019 Eurostat).
Galician
[glg] 5* (Dispersed). 15,000 in Portugal (1994 SIL).
Kabuverdianu
[kea] 5 (Dispersed). 63,900 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc), increasing.
Guinea-Bissau Creole
[pov] 5* (Dispersed). 23,700 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc).
Spanish
[spa] 5* (Dispersed). 706,330 in Portugal, all users. L1 users: 9,330 in Portugal (2019). L2 users: 697,000 (2019).
Portuguese Sign Language
[psr] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1997, Constitution, Article 74(2h)). 10,000 in Portugal (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). About 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 52,000 (2014 IMB); 60,000 (2021 EUD). Used by many of 8,000 deaf persons (Van Cleve 1986). Total users in all countries: 10,550.
Caló
[rmq] 5* (Developing). 5,000 in Portugal.
Romani, Vlax
[rmy] 5* (Developing). 500 in Portugal.
Asturian
[ast] 6b* (Threatened). 10,000 in Portugal (Salminen 2007).
Sãotomense
[cri] 6b* (Threatened). 10,600 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc).
Barranquian
[ext] 6b* (Threatened). 1,500 in Portugal.
Minderico
[drc] 8a (Moribund). 500 (2010 V. Ferreira).
Portugal and Spain
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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